Evidence of Remicade and skin problems first surfaced in April 2005, when Dutch researchers reported their clinical findings in the medical journal Arthritis Research and Therapy. Remicade works by suppressing the immune system. This is helpful to patients whose overactive immune reactions underlie their rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, or ankylosing spondylitis, but it can also be a problem. New evidence, published in May 2006 in the Journal of the American Medical Association, suggests that Remicade can TRIPLE the risk of skin cancer . While previous studies indicated the increased risk of infection and lymphoma, a blood cancer, this is the first study to show that Remicade can cause skin cancer.

Remicade treatment has been previously linked to serious side effects, including fatal reactions such as heart failure and infections including tuberculosis, histoplasmosis, listeriosis, and pneumocystosis. The FDA has issued a series of warnings and now requires the drug to carry a special "black box warning" on its label, a heightened warning for potentially dangerous drugs.

On September 4, 2008, the FDA ordered a stronger warning for Remicade and for three other drugs used to treat rheumatoid arthritis. The FDA is warning users that they are at risk of developing potentially fatal fungal infections. In its announcement the agency reports that 240 users of the drugs have contracted a fungal infection called histoplasmosis. 45 of the reported cases have resulted in death.

Usage:

Remicade (Infliximab), developed by Centocor, a pharmaceutical company owned by Johnson & Johnson, is a drug used to contol inflamation due to auto-immune disorders. Infliximab has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for for the treatment of psoriasis, pediatric Crohn's disease, ankylosing spondylitis, Crohn's disease, psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and ulcerative colitis. According to the manufacturer's websites, there are more patients world-wide who have been treated with Remicade (the first commercially available TNF antagonist) than Enbrel and Humira combined.

Remicade is administered by intravenous infusion, typically at 2-month intervals, and at a clinic or hospital. It cannot be administered orally, because the digestive system would destroy the drug.

Litigation:

RA sufferers often have an increased risk of infection, lawyers argue that marketing a drug that can exacerbate infections and cause sepsis is negligent and irresponsible corporate behavior on the part of Centocor. If you or a loved one has suffered injury as a result of taking Remicade, you may be eligible to seek compensation for your losses and suffering. A qualified attorney at DrugSettlement.com can answer your questions, evaluate your situation, and determine your best course of action. Please use the form at right to contact us today. An experienced attorney is prepared to help protect your legal interests.