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Article: Removing Raptiva
- Article from:
- Dermatology Times
- Article date:
- June 1, 2009
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright Advanstar Communications, Inc. Jun 2009. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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As curtain falls on one biologic, derms worry about future of others
International report - The withdrawal of Raptiva (efalizumab, Genentech) from the U.S. market leaves even dermatologists who rarely prescribe it wishing it were available for patients who need it, sources say.
Raptiva's disappearance, furthermore, increases dermatologists' eagerness for new biologies, while perhaps driving away dermatologists already suspicious of them, experts say.
In April, Genentech announced a phased voluntary withdrawal of efalizumab because post-marketing research had uncovered three cases of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) in patients who had taken it. Since efalizumab earned Food ...