Raptiva Lawsuits

Side effects of Raptiva may increase the risk of serious and potentially life-threatening injuries, such as infection, malignancy, lymphoma and death. The psoriasis drug was recalled in April 2009 because the risks associated with Raptiva outweighed the benefits.

RAPTIVA LAWSUIT STATUS: A number of Raptiva lawsuits have been filed against the manufacturers as a result of their failure to research the effects of the medication or warn about the risk.

Potential claims are being reviewed by Raptiva lawyers on behalf of individuals who have been diagnosed with:

Did You Know?

Ticketmaster Data Breach Impacts Millions of Customers

A massive Ticketmaster data breach exposed the names, addresses, phone numbers, credit card numbers and other personal information of more than 560 million customers, which have now been released on the dark web. Lawsuits are being pursued to obtain financial compensation.

Learn More
  • Serious Infections (such as meningitis, encephalitis, bacterial sepsis, erythroderma, fungal disease and others)
  • Lymphoma and Other Cancers (such as Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, Colon Cancer and other Malignancy)
  • Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy or PML (a serious brain infection)
  • Neurological Complications

>>SUBMIT INFO ABOUT A RAPTIVA LAWSUIT TO A LAWYER<<

MANUFACTURERS: Genentech, Inc. and Xoma LLC

OVERVIEW: Raptiva (efalizumab) was a subcutaneous injection that was administered once a week to treat psoriasis, a chronic autoimmune disease that affects the skin.

The medication is a member of a new class of drugs called biotics, which utilize recombinant DNA technology. The FDA approved Raptiva in October 2003, but due to post-marketing reports of Raptiva infections and lymphomas, the FDA had Genentech add a “black box” warning to the drug in 2008 due to the risk of serious infection. A Raptiva recall was issued in April 2009 after a number of confirmed reports involving a rare brain infection, known as progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy.

Raptiva side effects may suppress the body’s defenses, increasing the risk of serious life-threatening infections, neurological complications and the development of lymphoma, malignancy and possibly death.

ALLEGATIONS IN LAWSUITS OVER RAPTIVA: The manufacturers of Raptiva failed to adequately research the medication or warn about the risk of Raptiva infections, lymphomas and other side effects.

The drug makers knew that users of their medication needed to remain on Raptiva for long periods of time, if not for the rest of their life, because psoriasis is a chronic incurable disease and there were numerous reports of patients having “rebound effect” when they stopped using the drug. However, inadequate warnings were provided about the risks and dangers, and no significant studies on long-term use were performed.

The manufacturers also knew or should have known that the long-term immunosuppression from side effects of Raptiva increases the likelihood of serious life-threatening infections, neurological complications, lymphomas, malignancies and possibly death. However, they failed to disclose the long term risk and failed to recommend that users of the drug be monitored by their physician.

RAPTIVA BRAIN INFECTIONS: Raptiva has been associated with the development of a rare viral disease known as progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (or PML), which attacks the central nervous system and the brain. The Raptiva infection has no known cure and often results in death.

Symptoms of a PML brain infection from Raptiva could includde confusion, dizziness, loss of balance, difficulty talking, difficulty walking, impaired speech and vision problems.

8 Comments

  • LawrenceMay 16, 2021 at 2:25 am

    I was in the hospital for a week or so, at St Joes Ann Arbor, Mi 09/10/2010. The Doctors suspected Meningitis but they were unable to find out whether it was bacterial or viral. They finally put on the worst drug that they had reluctantly and sent me home. I actually thought I was going to die. I wasn't able to eat for sometime as I was so sick. I had weird head aches years after like something w[Show More]I was in the hospital for a week or so, at St Joes Ann Arbor, Mi 09/10/2010. The Doctors suspected Meningitis but they were unable to find out whether it was bacterial or viral. They finally put on the worst drug that they had reluctantly and sent me home. I actually thought I was going to die. I wasn't able to eat for sometime as I was so sick. I had weird head aches years after like something was swimming around in my skull.

  • williamFebruary 20, 2013 at 7:35 pm

    stop using it it put me in the hosptial twice

  • KarenAugust 6, 2009 at 1:46 am

    I'm 54 years old and been taking Raptive for 5-6 years. It had been a life changing drug for me. Totally clear for 5 years. I have since changed drugs and doing very well. My question is do you think that the drug company would pay for some kind of brain testing to see if we have anything to worry about?

  • WAYNEMarch 16, 2009 at 8:15 am

    I am 61 years old and have been taking RAPTIVA for approx. 2-3 years. I was wondering if any other patients have reported erection / infertility problems. I know this can be common amongst men my age but it icoincided with me commencing RAPTIVA treatment. Maybe a coincident but worth asking the question.

  • JuliaMarch 4, 2009 at 3:17 pm

    I have been on Raptiva for three years and have many concerns about this drug now. How will it effect me long term once I do get off of it. This has truly scared me.

  • JamesFebruary 21, 2009 at 9:42 pm

    To this date there have been three known cases of PML, two of which have died, the third in Europe with unconfirmed death. These three patients were all on long term therapy with Raptiva for psoriasis, two of the patients were over 70 years in age, the third in Europe was 47. While Raptiva is speculated to be related, via possible activation of JC Polyoma virus, it has not been proven. This is [Show More]To this date there have been three known cases of PML, two of which have died, the third in Europe with unconfirmed death. These three patients were all on long term therapy with Raptiva for psoriasis, two of the patients were over 70 years in age, the third in Europe was 47. While Raptiva is speculated to be related, via possible activation of JC Polyoma virus, it has not been proven. This is tragic news for Dermatologists and the psoriasis communiity, since these patients have fared so well on Raptiva.

  • Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy Lawsuits : AboutLawsuits.comOctober 17, 2008 at 4:29 pm

    [...] multifocal leukoencepholapthy among users of the multiple sclerosis drug Tysabri, psoriasis drug Raptiva and organ transplant medications CellCept or Myfortic, or the multiple sclerosis drug [...]

  • FDA Adds Raptiva Black Box Warning About Serious Infections : AboutLawsuits.comOctober 17, 2008 at 4:14 pm

    [...] FDA is adding a new “black box” warning to the psoriasis drug Raptiva. Side effects could include an increased risk of potentially life-threatening infections, including [...]

Share Your Comments

I authorize the above comments be posted on this page*

Want your comments reviewed by a lawyer?

To have an attorney review your comments and contact you about a potential case, provide your contact information below. This will not be published.

NOTE: Providing information for review by an attorney does not form an attorney-client relationship.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

More Top Stories

Ozempic MDL Court To Evaluate Need for Gastroparesis Diagnostic Testing in GLP-1 Lawsuits
Ozempic MDL Court To Evaluate Need for Gastroparesis Diagnostic Testing in GLP-1 Lawsuits (Posted yesterday)

A federal judge has agreed to divide lawsuits over gastroparesis injuries linked to drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro into multiple phases, examining how the condition is diagnosed and whether plaintiffs' claims are preempted by federal laws.

Adult Woman Files Similac Lawsuit Over NEC Injuries Experienced as a Newborn
Adult Woman Files Similac Lawsuit Over NEC Injuries Experienced as a Newborn (Posted 2 days ago)

Lawsuit alleges that Abbott Laboratories failed to provide families and the medical community with adequate warnings about the risks associated with it’s cow’s milk-based Similac formula, which a now adult woman indicates has left her with life-long NEC injuries.

Amended Lawsuit Over BioZorb Implant Side Effects Outlines Problems Caused By Tissue Marker Design Defects
Amended Lawsuit Over BioZorb Implant Side Effects Outlines Problems Caused By Tissue Marker Design Defects (Posted 3 days ago)

Six breast cancer patients have asked a federal judge for permission to amend a complaint filed in March 2024, which describes problems linked to the device and painful side effects experienced when the tissue marker migrated out of position or shattered inside their bodies.