Remicade Questions
Q: What is Remicade?
A: Remicade (infliximab) is a powerful drug used to treat autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 1998, Remicade is marketed by Centocor, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson.
Q: Is Remicade expensive?
A: It certainly is. A single Remicade infusion for a 190-pound person suffering from Crohn’s
Remicade is expensive—a single infusion can cost as much as $16,000. The medication bills of patients on Remicade can top $60,000 per year.
disease ranges from $3,000 to $16,000. The medication bills of patients getting Remicade infusions can exceed $60,000 per year.
Q: What are the side effects of Remicade?
A: It can increase the risk of serious and even fatal infections. It has also been shown to raise the risk of liver damage. People taking Remicade are twice as likely to get pneumonia or tuberculosis, and thrice as likely to get certain kinds of
cancer. Common side effects of Remicade include abdominal pain, nausea, fatigue and vomiting.
Q: What has the Food and Drug Administration had to say about Remicade?
A: In 2001, three years after approving it, the FDA gave Remicade a “black-box” warning. The next year, it issued a public warning about links between Remicade and nervous system problems, and in 2004 came a third warning that it can necessitate liver transplantation or cause death. Oddly enough, with all these major issues, in 2006 the FDA approved Remicade as a treatment for pediatric Crohn’s disease.
Q: Have there been any lawsuits over Remicade?
A: Yes. In 2002, a class action Remicade lawsuit was filed in New Jersey, alleging that Centocor illegally inflated the price of the drug. And in December 2006, a Texas jury awarded almost $20 million to a woman who contracted lupus after two years on Remicade.
