BALTIMORE, Md., March 24 (Reuters) - Use of controversial anemia drugs made by Amgen Inc (AMGN.O) and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ.N) at high levels likely worsen heart problems and possibly chances for survival in kidney patients, a U.S. Medicare advisory panel said on Wednesday, calling for more study. Outside experts on the panel told the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) that they were confident that use of the blockbuster drugs, called erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs), in chronic kidney disease patients could cause harm.
via reuters.com
1 comment:
It was thought for years that "fixing whatever seemed wrong" or "restoring normal levels of x" should improve life, not shorten it. So I think it was a genuine surprise that we learned "restoring normal hemoglobin values" had unanticipated risks of clots, and then later learned that even getting people to 10 or 12 might not be such a great idea.
I don't _think_ this is in the same class of mistake as the decades of HRT people have been put through, but I'm sure there will be investigations to assess that more thoroughly.
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