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Jan B. Wade · #1 (**permalink**) 03-10-2007, 07:29 AM

Analysis: New warnings on anemia drugs

WASHINGTON, March 9 (UPI) -- The Food and Drug Administration issued new warnings for anemia drugs Friday, acting on evidence that they can worsen tumors and increase the risk of death in some patients.

FDA officials said Aranesp, Procrit, and Epogen would now carry "black-box" warnings cautioning of a risk of dangerous blood clots and early death if used too aggressively in some patients.

The agency is also telling scientists to consider ending clinical trials involving the drugs.

The drugs are in a class of drugs called erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) used to stimulate red blood cell counts. The drugs are widely used in patients undergoing cancer treatment and those with renal failure.

The drugs are approved to prevent blood transfusions in kidney failure and cancer patients. But official suggested that doctors have increasingly used ESAs to up red blood cells higher than the level needed to avoid transfusion in an effort to prevent fatigue in patients...

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