Amgen & Wyeth's Enbrel, the TNF (tumor necrosis factor) alpha blocker drug used to suppress the immune system for patients with rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, has been linked to serious fungal infections and deaths – and the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) wants the manufacturers to strengthen the drug's warnings.

What is Enbrel?

Approved by the FDA in 1998, Enbrel is manufactured jointly by Amgen and Wyeth Pharmaceuticals. It is a TNF alpha blocker drug which is used to suppress the immune system and is prescribed for patients with rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

Enbrel's side effects

According to the manufacturers, Enbrel can “lower the ability of your immune system to fight infections. Serious infections have happened in patients taking ENBREL. These infections include tuberculosis (TB) and infections caused by viruses, fungi, or bacteria that have spread throughout the body. Some patients have died from these infections.” Source: www.enbrel.com

However, the FDA says that the warning may not be enough to warn doctors and patients about those risks. The Administration has reviewed 240 reports of histoplasmosis, an infection caused by the fungusHistoplasma capsulatum, in patients being treated with Enbrel and other TNF drugs such as Remicade, Humira and Cimzia. The FDA isn't the only one who's looked at the serious side effect of the drug. Another study by the famed Mayo Clinic also links Enbrel to other injuries.

Mayo Clinic reports TNF-alpha blockers may cause cancers and infections

A Mayo Clinic study reported that there is a direct link between the use of Enbrel and the increased likelihood of developing several types of cancer including lung cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, breast cancer, skin cancer and serious infections. The study says that those taking Enbrel were two times as likely to develop a serious infection and three times as likely to develop cancer.

If you've been injured due to one of these TNF-alpha blockers, contact a products liability attorney to discuss your situation and evaluate your options.