Tuesday, January 24, 2012

.FDA Issues Warning About Lymphoma Drug Brentuximab


The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning to healthcare professionals about the lymphoma drug brentuximab (Adcetris, Seattle Genetics).
Two new cases of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), which is a rare but serious brain infection, have been reported. Because of the seriousness of PML, which can result in death, a new boxed warning highlighting this risk has been added to the drug label, according to the FDA.
In addition, a contraindication was added, warning against the use of brentuximab with the cancer drug bleomycin because of the increased risk for pulmonary toxicity.
Brentuximab was approved by the FDA in August 2011 for the treatment of Hodgkin's lymphoma and systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma. At the time of approval, 1 case of PML was described in the warnings and precautions section of the label. So there are now 3 cases associated with the drug.
The signs and symptoms of PML can develop over the course of several weeks or months. They can include changes in mood or usual behavior; confusion; thinking problems; loss of memory; changes in vision, speech, or walking; and decreased strength or weakness on one side of the body, the FDA says.
Healthcare professionals should suspend brentuximab dosing if PML is suspected, and discontinue the drug therapy if a diagnosis of PML is confirmed, according to the FDA.
Brentuximab generated much excitement among experts when study results were presented at the American Society of Hematology annual meeting in 2010. Some of the responses seen in refractory lymphoma were described as "amazing." The new drug is the first to be approved by the FDA for Hodgkin's lymphoma in more than 30 years, the company said.

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Lawyers: Why I follow (some of) you on Twitter

Image representing Twitter as depicted in Crun...
Image via CrunchBase
Ours is a personal injury practice with a national approach. In our offices, we not only have attorneys licensed in three states, but we litigate across the country.

On Twitter for one of our accounts we have taken a deliberate approach to following certain types of attorneys. We have compiled a list of lawyers by state and by specialty. For specialties, I follow attorneys in these areas: Criminal law, family law, estates, transactional, and immigration. I don't spend much time seeking out or searching for IP lawyers (unless they are interesting) or construction.

Why do I follow in those areas at all? Because our office now is actively involved in litigation in multiple Multi District Litigation matters involving unsafe/recalled products across the country. We are not limited to the south in our practice, and of the many people we represent, on average (we keep records) we have current clients asking about 30-50 times a month law questions other areas of law we don't practice, as well as in states we are not licensed in. 

So, if you wonder why one of us decides to follow you now some of you know.








       
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