Raptiva Legal Information Center
Some people who have taken the antibody efalizumab—formerly sold under the brand name Raptiva—have developed a devastating brain disease.
You shouldn’t have to go through more trouble to be compensated for the harm you’ve already suffered. The Rottenstein Law Group, a Raptiva law firm, knows this, and we want you to believe it. You need a sympathetic advocate who will represent only your interests—and who will make the process as painless as possible. If you’ve taken Raptiva and have been harmed, contact RLG for a free consultation immediately.
What Is Raptiva and What Is It Prescribed For?
Raptiva is the brand name for the drug efalizumab. Made and sold by Genentech, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Swiss pharmaceutical giant Hoffman-LaRoche, Ltd., this prescription medication is used to treat chronic, moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in adults. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Raptiva in October 2003, and Genentech sold it in the form of an injectable compound.
An antibody is an immune agent that attacks foreign substances in the body, such as viruses, bacteria, protists, fungi, and other pathogens. Researchers create a monoclonal antibody by duplicating immune cells from a single parent cell and then collecting the antibodies they then create. Raptiva binds to CD11a, a subunit of an antigen called “leukocyte function antigen-1″ (LFA-1). LFA-1 itself normally binds to “intercellular adhesion molecule-1″ (ICAM-1), which allows leukocytes to latch on to other cell types. By disrupting the process by which LFA-1 binds to ICAM-1, Raptiva prevents immune agents known as lymphocytes from attacking areas of the skin affected by psoriasis. Because it acts on the immune system, users are vulnerable to infectious attacks.
Raptiva Might Cause Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy Side Effects
In February 2009, the FDA announced that it had received reports of three confirmed cases and one possible case of Raptiva users developing progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). Two of the patients died, as did the one with the possible case of PML. Symptoms of PML include:
- Unusual weakness;
- Loss of coordination;
- Changes in vision;
- Difficulty speaking;
- Personality changes; and
- Irreversible decline in neurological function.
PML can be a fatal condition, and there is neither an existing, reliable diagnostic test for detecting PML nor a treatment for it.
On April 9, 2009, the FDA announced that Genentech had voluntarily withdrawn Raptiva from the market due to its tendency to increase the likelihood of PML in users. Subsequently, numerous users sued Genentech. According to Bloomberg Businessweek, one Raptiva lawsuit is headed for trial in June 2012. The Rottenstein Law Group does not know of any pending federal-level Raptiva class action lawsuits or Raptiva multidistrict litigation.
RLG’s Raptiva Lawyers Will Make Things Easier
The process of demanding compensation for the harm you’ve suffered can be complicated, even if it doesn’t seem fair that you should have to go through even more trouble to be made whole again. The Raptiva lawyers at the Rottenstein Law Group believe that obtaining legal satisfaction from those who harmed you shouldn’t require more hardship. That’s why we do everything we can to streamline the process, and we will file a Raptiva lawsuit on your behalf if necessary. RLG will also keep you up to date on any Raptiva lawsuits news and FDA Raptiva announcements. If you have taken Raptiva and believe it harmed you, contact RLG today.
