Since Actemra (tocilizumab) hit the market in 2010, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has received at least 13,500 adverse event reports link to the drug, including 1,128 reports of death, according to a recent investigation by STAT. Actemra was approved to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in 2010. In May 2017, the FDA approved Actemra for treatment of another auto-immune disease called giant cell arteritis.
Actemra Dangers
Some of the potential side effects listed on the Actemra label include:
- Cancer
- Severe allergic reaction
- Nervous system problems
- Gastrointestinal tears
- Serious infections, including hepatitis B
Potential side effects that are not included in the warning label include:
- Pancreatitis
- Lung complications, including interstitial lung disease
- Heart attack
- Heart failure
- Stroke
Failure to Warn
If you have been harmed by Actemra or lost a loved one to Actemra side effects, you may be able to recover substantial compensation. Drug makers have a duty to warn consumers, doctors and other health care professionals about the dangers associated with their products. This gives doctors the opportunity to give their patients informed guidance and gives patients the chance to make an informed choice.
According to the STAT report, other RA drugs that carry the same risk of life-threatening side effects, or possibly lower, do carry warnings while Actemra does not, leading patients to believe that Actemra is a safer choice. STAT’s review of the adverse event reports shows that Actemra is not safer.
If you have been harmed by Actemra, please talk to an experienced Actemra injury attorney right away to learn more about your rights and potential compensation.
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