The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced it will conduct safety checks on three widely used anemia drugs marketed by Amgen and Johnson & Johnson. This comes after recent clinical trials linked Epogen, Aranesp and Procrit to increased risks of heart attack and stroke when used in current dosages.

The FDA is set to release new usage labels for all three drugs after conducting an independent investigation on how the current dosages may affect patients. This would be the third time since 2007 that the FDA has released new guidelines when it comes to the anemia drugs. The new FDA panel is set to focus on determining the correct doses that will decrease heart attack and stroke risks.

Epogen, Aranesp and Procrit Risks

Epogen, Aranesp and Procrit are frequently used anemia drugs, often prescribed to patients suffering from chronic kidney disease and following chemotherapy. Engineered to stimulate the formation of oxygen-carrying red blood cells in the bone marrow, Epogen, Aranesp and Procrit reduce the need for blood transfusions. But according to the New England Journal of Medicine, the drugs double the risk of stroke and heart attack in people with diabetes and kidney disease, and worsen the condition of cancer patients.

Epogen, Aranesp and Procrit Lawsuits

Although, the safety risks of Epogen, Aranesp and Procrit associated with current dosages are still being reviewed, patients who suffer from diabetes, kidney disease and/or have been prescribed one of the three drugs following chemotherapy may be eligible to collect monetary damages. The attorneys of Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis and Overholtz are among the best defective drug attorneys in Florida who can inform you of your rights. To learn more about filing a claim against Amgen or Johnson & Johnson, contact the AWKO law office at (888) 255-2956.