Texas Jury Awards $19.4 Mil in Remicade Lawsuit

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A Security Advisory by the American Association for Justice reports that December 13, a Corpus Christi, TX jury awarded $19.4 million to a woman who had filed a Remicade lawsuit. The woman contracted lupus as a result of taking the prescription arthritis drug.

A Texas jury has found that Centocor Inc. negligently failed to warn doctors and consumers about potential side effects of Remicade and must pay $19.4 million to a woman who claims she developed lupus as a result of using the drug. Hamilton, et al. v. Centocor Inc., et al., No. 03-60526-4 (Texas Ct. at Law No. 4, Nueces Cty.).

Remicade has had a controversial history since its creation by Centocor Inc. As recently as May 17, 2006, Mayo Clinic researchers found Remicade tripled cancer and serious infection risk for patients prescribed the anti-inflammatory drug. Remicade is prescribed for sufferers of rheumatoid arthritis and functions by blocking tumor necrosis factor or TNF, a protein that encourages inflammation--the caveat being that TNF itself is a cancer-fighting protein.

The Boston Globe further discusses the types of cancer associated with Remicade.

The new study found an apparent link to other cancers, too, including skin, gastrointestinal, breast, and lung tumors. It also quantifies the risks and says high doses appear to be the riskiest.

The drugs' packaging information mentions some of the risks. The manufacturers said the new study does not prove the medication is at fault, and they said the research was flawed.