Health
FDA OKs new drug for Crohn's
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted May 12, 2008
The Food and Drug Administration April 22 approved a new drug to treat adults with moderate to severe Crohn's disease who have not responded to conventional therapy.
Patients treated with the new drug, Cimzia, will receive one injection every two weeks for the first three injections. Once benefit has been established, Cimzia should then be given once every four weeks, according to the FDA. The drug, which will be accompanied by a medication guide, can affect the immune system and place patients at risk for serious infections.
Crohn's disease, a chronic, inflammatory bowel disease, affects more than 1 million men and women worldwide. It has no cure and its cause is unknown.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/05/12/hlbf0512.htm.
