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Injured by Humira?

On May 17, 2006 a new study discovered that patients taking Humira face triple the risk of developing several kinds of cancer and double the risk of getting severe infections. Humira (generic: Adalimumab) is manufactured by Abbott Laboratories and is prescribed to combat Rheumatoid arthritis. Humira was granted FDA approval on December 31, 2002.

Humira is in the same class of drugs as Enbrel and Remicade. These drugs are called anti-TNF drugs or TNF blocker drugs. TNF is a small protein called a cytokine, which has a major role in the regulation of the immune system. Anti-TNF drugs confine TNF and obstruct the reaction, which causes the abnormal joint inflammation.

In rheumatoid arthritis, TNF levels are very high, resulting in:

• Inflammation
• Swelling
• Pain
• Joint damage

Mayo Clinic Study
The findings of this new study can be found in the May 17, 2006 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. The Mayo Clinic study found an apparent link to other cancers, including skin, gastrointestinal, breast and lung tumors. Eric Matteson, a professor at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., and an author of the study, stated that physicians might well expect to see one additional case of cancer develop within 6 to 12 months of treatment for every 154 patients who take the drugs. Doctors could expect to see one serious infection, such as pneumonia, within 3 to 12 months for every 59 patients treated. Less than 1% of patients in the study developed cancer. The Mayo Clinic study found an apparent link to other cancers, including skin, gastrointestinal, breast and lung tumors. Anti-TNF antibody drugs are one of the fastest-growing prescription classes in the nation.
 
Legal Help for Humira Users
If you or a loved one took Humira and suffered side effects, please fill out the form at the right for a free case evaluation by a qualified drug side effects attorney.