Raptiva Side Effects Injury Lawyers in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Our experienced Raptiva side effects lawyers are currently offering free case evaluations for those injured by the harmful side effects of  the drug Raptiva. Raptiva has been removed from the U.S. market because it has been linked to serious, even fatal, side effects.

What is Raptiva?

Raptiva (generic: Efalizumab) is used in the treatment of psoriasis, and is intended to attack the rapidly reproducing disease cells by way of an antibody. This antibody is created by cloning a single hybrid B cell with a tumor cell, to form an antibody that will produce more antibiotic cells to fight the disease.  Raptiva works by blocking the activation of certain immune cells (T-cells).

As an immunosuppressive agent (anything that suppresses the body’s natural defense system – the immune system), Raptiva lowers the body’s ability to fight infections, increasing the threat of a patient contracting harmful infections or tumors. Serious infections and malignancies have been reported in patients taking Raptiva, including malignant melanoma,  non-melanoma skin cancers, solid tumors and lymphomas.

Raptiva Warnings Issued by the FDA

In 2008, the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) required Genetech to place a boxed warning on the Raptiva label warning of the drugs’ risk of  a serious, usually fatal, brain infection called multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) that develops by way of a contracted virus. As of April, 2009, the drug is being withdrawn from the U.S. market because of it’s association with PML.

PML attacks the central nervous system by way of the brain and is usually fatal. It is caused when the patient develops the JC virus, a name for a particular polyomavirus that is acquired during childhood. Adults that have been infected with the JC virus typically don’t develop PML. Symptoms of PML include loss of coordination, vision problems, and memory loss. Often, patients are permanently disabled by the disease.

We can help Raptiva victims

PML is serious, if you or a loved one developed PML after being exposed to Raptiva, contact the Law Offices of the Stampfle Law Firm at 1-843-839-3377 for a FREE Consultation to discuss your legal options.