New generation medicines can also be dangerous

The first study of new generation probiotic drugs used to treat a number of common diseases shows that nearly a quarter of them cause some serious side effects that make these drugs alert for safety. Full use very soon after being launched.

New research conducted by Dutch researchers is the first comprehensive study of new generation drugs, a crucial part of the biotechnology revolution.

Research on new drugs in the laboratory (Photo: Adamed.com.pl) Study of 136 approved biologic drugs in the United States and 105 categories in the European Union from January 1995 to June 2007 . A total of 41 types (nearly 24%) were warned about safety by June 2008.

In the recently published report on unsafe biological drugs, there are also arthritis drugs Humira and Remicade, anticancer drugs Rituxan and Erbitux, and Natrecor heart failure medication.

Dr. Charles Bennett, Northwestern University drug safety expert, said many of the biologic drugs are genetically modified . Because they are characteristic proteins that mimic nature, many doctors think they are safer than chemically derived drugs. While doctors and patients should be aware that biological drugs can cause side effects that are not listed on the label. " These effects include brain, fungal and cancer infections " - he said.

Among the drugs tested are Genentech's Raptiva psoriasis medication, which has just been warned by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last week to cause very serious brain diseases. danger; and Exubera, an inhaled insulin, are linked to lung cancer risk. Exubera was approved by the FDA for circulation in 2006 but Pfizer Company stopped selling at the end of 2007.

(Photo: Washingtontimes)

The author of the above study, GS. Thijs Giezen (Utrecht University) notes: ' It is necessary to look more closely at drugs, even after being approved for circulation '. GS. Giezen argues that research is also a " reassuring " because most of the issues that have been exposed very soon, as soon as drugs are sold, means reducing the risk of a wider harm to users. .

Absolutely unsafe biotechnology application drugs

Many biotech applications have an advantage over conventional drugs, but research also shows that their risks need to be carefully considered, said Thomas Moore of the Drug Safety Research Institute. .

For example, non-steroidal arthritis drugs including ibuprofen can relieve pain by anti-inflammatory, but they cause stomach bleeding.

Medications for rheumatoid arthritis Remicade, Enbrel and Humira reduce joint pain by not allowing the immune system to re-attack the body itself, the underlying cause of the disease. But they are much more expensive and are linked to the risk of dying. Therefore, FDA is studying their side effects on cancer risk.

"My message to patients is that biotechnology-applied drugs can cure incurable diseases, but there are also potential risks and you need to pay more attention to the risks you may suffer " , Mr. Moore said.