On January 7, 2010, the Food and Drug Administration responded to evidence of increased risks of strokes and heart attacks among patients receiving high doses of certain epoetin alfa anemia drugs including Aranesp and Epogen produced by Amgen, and Procrit manufactured by Johnson & Johnson. The FDA announced it will ask outside experts to re-examine the safety and proper dosage of these drugs.

Aranesp, Epogen and Procrit stimulate the formation of oxygen-carrying red blood cells in the bone marrow. They are given to patients with anemia due to cancer treatment and kidney disease to reduce or eliminate the need for blood transfusions.

The FDA’s action follows publication of studies showing that high dosages of anemia drugs might worsen the survival rate of patients with cancer, diabetes or chronic kidney disease. Patients with these diseases receiving high concentrations of anemia drugs were found to at a greater risk of an adverse cardiovascular event, stroke, and death. In a related story, the San Francisco Chronicle today observed that Amgen’s shares dipped in the wake of the FDA drug re-examination announcement.

If you took Aranesp, Epogen or Procrit and suffered a stroke or other cardiac event, please feel free to contact a personal injury attorney at Lieff Cabraser.