Does J&J’s Regranex cause cancer?
A Johnson & Johnson foot gel used by diabetics may increase the risk of cancer and death, U.S. health officials said on Thursday in announcing an investigation into the issue.
The Food and Drug Administration said a study of the gel, called Regranex, found an increase in the number of cancer deaths among patients who had been prescribed the gel three or more times.
Regranex, approved for U.S. patients in 1997, is a prescription gel used to treat diabetic leg and foot wounds.
“At this time, FDA believes that there may be some evidence for an increased risk of death from cancer in patients who had repeated treatments with Regranex,” the FDA said in a statement. “Because there are known risks associated with diabetic foot and leg ulcers that do not heal, the potential risk of using Regranex should be weighed against the benefit for each individual patient.”
Barbara Montresor, a spokeswoman for Johnson & Johnson’s Ethicon Inc unit that makes the gel, said the company was working with the agency and that Regranex is safe when used as directed.
In all fairness, J&J has a history of putting public safety ahead of profits, so it will be interesting to see how this pans out.
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