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Raptiva® Prescription Information

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Produced by Genentech and Merck Serono, Raptiva® is an injectable medication used to treat psoriasis, an autoimmune disorder that causes red, scaly patches (plaques) to develop on the skin.

Raptiva® is generically known as efalizumab and is typically administered once a week via injection to the thigh, upper arm, abdomen or buttocks.

Raptiva® Package Insert: Warnings About Raptiva® Side Effects

Despite it's effectiveness at minimizing the symptoms of psoriasis, Raptiva® medication has been found to cause some patients to develop serious, potentially fatal infections, including:

• bacterial sepsis, a blood infection
• invasive fungal disease
• progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), an infection that triggers inflammation of the brain's white matter
• viral meningitis, an infection that causes swelling of the brain and/or spinal cord.

The severity of these possible Raptiva® side effects led the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to mandate that Genentech and Merck Serono include a "black box" warning – the most serious level of FDA warnings – on Raptiva® prescribing information, as well as on every Raptiva® package insert.

This elevated Raptiva® warning has been printed on Raptiva® package inserts since Oct. 16, 2008.

Other Raptiva® Prescribing Information: Risk Factors for Raptiva® Side Effects

In addition to warning patients about possible side effects, Raptiva® package inserts also list the factors that can elevate patients' risk of developing such life-threatening infections.

Risk factors include having a history of:

• chronic fungal, viral or bacteria infections
• receiving vaccines while taking Raptiva® (or coming into contact with someone who has recently received a "live" vaccine)
• taking other immunosuppressant medications (such as those prescribed for organ transplants, certain types of cancer, lupus, etc.)
• undergoing phototherapy (the use of light to treat jaundice, acne, etc.).

Following a Raptiva® Infection

Patients injured from a Raptiva® treatment should:

• Seek emergency medical care to save their lives
• Follow through with all long-term care requirements to ensure a full recovery
• Find an alternative treatment for their psoriasis
• Meet with a personal injury lawyer who specializes in Raptiva® cases, once their health is stable

During an initial consultation with a Raptiva® lawyer, affected patients (or families of deceased Raptiva® patients) can:

• Find out if they are entitled to compensation for their injuries
• Learn more about the process of building, presenting and winning a Raptiva® lawsuit
• Decide whether they want to file an individual case or join an already-progressing class-action case (based on their needs and circumstances)

By pursuing a Raptiva® lawsuit, plaintiffs can win compensation for their:

• burial and/or funeral costs
• hospital bills
• inability to earn a living
• lost wages
• ongoing costs of necessary, long-term medical care
• emotional pain and suffering

If You Have Been Injured by Raptiva®

Have you or a loved one been injured after taking Raptiva®? If so, contact us to speak with an experienced Raptiva® attorney who specializes in drug recall litigation & lawsuits. Let us help you win the compensation you need and deserve.