mycophenolic acid FDA Alerts
The FDA Alert(s) below may be specifically about mycophenolic acid or relate to a group or class of drugs which include mycophenolic acid.
MedWatch Safety Alerts are distributed by the FDA and published by Drugs.com. Following is a list of possible medication recalls, market withdrawals, alerts and warnings. For the latest FDA MedWatch alerts, go here.
Recent FDA Alert(s) for mycophenolic acid
Immunosuppressant Drugs: Required Labeling Changes
Jul 14, 2009
Audience: Transplant and nephrology healthcare professionals
Sirolimus (marketed as Rapamune), Cyclosporine (marketed as Sandimmune and generics), Cyclosporine modified (marketed as Neoral and generics), Mycophenolate mofetil (marketed as Cellcept and generics), Mycophenolic acid (marketed as Myfortic)
The FDA is requiring the makers of certain immunosuppressant drugs to update their labeling to reflect that immunosuppressed patients are at increased risk for opportunistic infections, such as activation of latent viral infections, including BK virus-associated nephropathy. These immunosuppressant drugs are used to protect against the rejection of certain organ transplants. The association of BK virus-associated nephropathy has previously been reported for another immunosuppressant drug, tacrolimus (marketed as Prograf). Monitoring for this serious risk and early intervention by the health care provider is critical. Adjustments in immunosuppression therapy should be considered for patients who develop BK virus-associated nephropathy.
FDA is continuing to review the safety of immunosuppressant drug products used in renal transplantation. The FDA urges both healthcare professionals and patients to report side effects from the use of immunosuppressant drug products to the FDA's MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program.
[07/14/2009 - Information for Healthcare Professionals - FDA]
CellCept (mycophenolate mofetil), Myfortic (mycophenolate acid)
Apr 10, 2008
Audience: Transplantation specialists, infectious disease specialists, other healthcare professionals
[Posted 04/10/2008] FDA informed healthcare professionals that the Agency is investigating a potential association between the use of CellCept and Myfortic, medicines used to prevent organ rejection, and the development of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), a life-threatening disease. PML is a rare disorder that affects the central nervous system usually occurring in patients with immune systems suppressed by disease or medicines. FDA is reviewing data submitted by Roche, including postmarketing reports it has received of PML in patients who took CellCept or Myfortic, and the proposed revisions to the CellCept prescribing information. FDA has asked Novartis, the maker of Myfortic, for data on PML cases and to revise the Myfortic prescribing information to include the same information about PML included in the CellCept prescribing information. FDA anticipates it may take about 2 months to complete its review of the postmarketing reports and the proposed revisions to the prescribing information. As soon as the review is completed, FDA will communicate the conclusions and recommendations to the public.Until further information is available, patients and healthcare professionals should be aware of the possibility of PML, such as localized neurologic signs and symptoms in the setting of a suppressed immune system, including during therapy with CellCept and Myfortic.
[April 10, 2008 - Communication About an Ongoing Safety Review - FDA]
