A. Daniel Woska & Associates, P.C.

 

Raptiva Side Effects:

Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy

Bacterial Sepsis

Viral Meningitis

Anemia

Invasive Fungal Disease

Other Opportunistic Infections

Nervous system disorders

Thrombocytopenia (low platelet count)

     Raptiva (efalizumab) is a prescription drug designed to treat psoriasis. It was developed by the pharmaceutical company Genentech. Raptiva, which is administered through weekly injections, alleviates the symptoms of psoriasis by suppressing the formation of T cells, a type of white blood cell which cause inflammation of the skin associated with psoriasis. It is a type of drug commonly referred to as an immuno-suppressant.

     After being approved by the FDA in 2003, Raptiva became one of the most widely used forms of treatment for psoriasis. However, on October 16, 2008, the FDA issued a “black box warning” to Raptiva which warned patients of the risks of life-threatening infections, including Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML), a brain infection that can lead to death.  On February 19, 2009 a Public Healh Advisory was issued by the FDA after receiving confirmed reports of three fatalities in patients using Raptiva who developed PML.

     The advisory issued by the FDA strongly recommended that healthcare professionals carefully monitor all patients on Raptiva, as well as those who have discontinued the drug, for signs of neurologic disease. Furthermore, FDA also advised that patients on the drug be periodically reassessed to determine whether or not there were benefits to continued treatment in view of identified side effects.