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Epogen


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Epogen Side EffectsMay Lead To Heart Attack Lawsuits

Epogen | Lawsuits, Lawyers | Side Effects: Heart Problems, Heart Attacks, Strokes, High Blood Pressure

On November 30, 2006, reports came out that two studies in this months New England Journal of Medicine have called into question the overuse of drugs in the treatment of anemia in kidney patients. Amgen's Epogen and Johnson and Johnson's Procrit, are the two most common anemia drugs which are at the center of the controversy, as researchers try to determine whether they've been over-prescribed by medical professionals. Sales of anemia drugs are nearing $10 billion annually. Epogen (Generic: Epoetin alfa) was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on July 26, 1999.

According to the above studies, Scientists established that anemic kidney patients are susceptible to heart problems or death when aggressively treated with Epogen or other anemia drugs. The drugs are intended to boost hemoglobin in anemic patients, but the increase in hemoglobin is apparently associated with other serious risks. Prior to the arrival of these anemia treatments, patients had to undergo transfusions to keep their red blood cell counts at healthy levels. The new drugs have been very successful in boosting red blood cell counts, but the fear today is that doctors have become too reliant on the drugs and that they are not sufficiently aware of the risks related to boosting hemoglobin (a main component of red blood cells) in kidney patients, which can include heart attack, stroke, and high blood pressure.

Legal help for Epogen Users

If you or a loved has taken Epogen and suffered heart problems or death, please fill out the form at the right for a free case evaluation from a qualified defective drugs attorney or call us at 1-800-LAW-INFO (1-800-529-4636).

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Procrit, Epogen Recalled, Vials May Contain Glass Flakes

Sep 24, 2010 | Parker Waichman LLP
Some lots of Epogen and Procrit (Epoetin alfa) are being recalled today over concerns that some vials may be contaminated with extremely thin, barely visible gas flakes. A complete list of the affected lots is available here. Procrit and Epogen are erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs). ESAs are a bioengineered version of a natural protein made in the kidney that stimulates the bone marrow to produce more red blood cells. They are used to treat anemia related to HIV therapy, chronic renal...
Procrit, Epogen Recalled, Vials May Contain Glass Flakes »

FDA Says Another Safety Review of Anemia Drugs in the Works

Jan 7, 2010 | Parker Waichman LLP
Anemia drugs Procrit, Epogen and Aranesp are slated to undergo another safety review, following the publication of a clinical trail that linked one of them to an increased risk of stroke.According to The New York Times, that study, called “Treat” was published in October in the New England Journal of Medicine. The goal of Treat was to see if using Aranesp to increase the red blood cell levels of people with diabetes and kidney disease would prevent death and cardiovascular problems....
FDA Says Another Safety Review of Anemia Drugs in the Works »

Procrit, Similar Drugs Linked to Increased Death Risk By Two More Studies

May 5, 2009 | Parker Waichman LLP
Two more studies have found that anemia drugs like Epogen, Procrit and Aranesp raise the risk of death among cancer patients.  Despite known safety risks, drugs like Procrit continue to be used because it is believed that they help reduce the number of blood transfusions some cancer patients need, while improving quality of life. According to a report on MedicineNet.com,  these two studies may raise  questions about that theory.Epogen, Procrit and Aranesp are known as...
Procrit, Similar Drugs Linked to Increased Death Risk By Two More Studies »

FDA Investigating Procrit and Epogen Following Clinical Trial Deaths

Sep 26, 2008 | Parker Waichman LLP
Epoetin alfa, an anemia drug sold in the U.S. as Procrit and Epogen, is being reviewed by federal regulators after patients in a German stroke study treated with the drug died at a higher rate than those administered a placebo.  The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) said it will be receiving more data about the German epoetin alfa trial in the next several weeks.  Once that data has been analyzed, the FDA will communicate its conclusions and recommendations regarding this drug to...
FDA Investigating Procrit and Epogen Following Clinical Trial Deaths »

Amgen Ends Controversial Aranesp Marketing Practices

Aug 29, 2008 | Parker Waichman LLP
The maker of Aranesp is halting marketing practices that critics said encouraged over-use of the anemia drug.  Criticism of the policies, in which Amgen  paid rebates to doctors for the purchase of Aranesp, had grown along with questions about the drug's safety. Aranesp is an erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA).  Two other ESA's, Epogen and Procrit, are also currently available.   All are made by Amgen, but Procrit is sold by Johnson & Johnson subsidiary Ortho...
Amgen Ends Controversial Aranesp Marketing Practices »

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