Raptiva Lawsuit Lawyer

Please note: Our law firm no longer accepts Raptiva cases.

Raptiva was manufactured by Genentech USA, Inc. and approved for market use in 2003. This injectable drug was used for the treatment of moderate to severe psoriasis. In late 2008, the FDA ordered that a black box warning be placed on Raptiva’s insert because it caused a serious neurological disease named Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy, or PML. This neurological disease substantially destroys the nerve impulses in the brain and affects one’s vision, balance, strength, talking, walking, and thinking.

FDA announced on April 8, 2009 that Genentech, the manufacturer of the psoriasis drug Raptiva (efalizumab), began to voluntarily withdraw the drug from the U.S. market. Genentech took the action due to the risk of users developing progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). This is a rare, serious, progressive neurologic disease caused by a virus that affects the central nervous system. Raptiva is no longer available in the U.S.

FDA strongly recommended that patients work with their health care professional to transition to other alternative therapies for psoriasis.

PML is rare and generally associated with long-term use. PML generally occurs in people with severely weakened immune systems and often leads to irreversible decline in neurologic function and death. No effective treatment exists for PML. On Oct. 16, 2008, the FDA updated labeling for Raptiva to warn of life-threatening infections, including PML. On Feb. 19, 2009, the agency issued a Public Health Advisory to tell patients and prescribers Raptiva’s PML risks, after confirming reports of four PML patients, three of whom died. On March 13, 2009, FDA approved a Medication Guide for Raptiva and included additional information in the drug’s labeling.

In addition to PML, Raptiva has been known to cause other immunosuppressant diseases such as Guillain-Barré Syndrome, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), facial palsy, sepsis, and transverse myelitis. In February 2009, the European drug agency decided to suspend all sales of Raptiva in Europe because its risks outweighed its benefits. Despite this harsh warning, the drug manufacturer continued to sell Raptiva in the United States until April 9, 2009, when it withdrew the drug from the market.