Skin care weblog

Hi there.

I have not posted for a while. I am Heidi, mom of Aiden (2). We both have HED.
Aiden
had very bad issues with Eczema. We have been able to control it to the point
where it is
not noticable but using products from a Wellness company called Melaleuca.
Anyway a
friend of mine with the company emailed me this info.

Two eczema creams get cancer warning labels
FDA reports possible long-term from use of prescription ointments

Updated: 6:06 a.m. ET Jan. 20, 2006
WASHINGTON - The labels on two prescription creams to treat eczema will have to

bear
"black box" warnings of possible cancer risks.
The Food and Drug Administration action on Thursday follows an agency advisory
committee recommendation last February that Elidel cream and Protopic ointment
carry
the label warnings. The new labeling also will clarify that the two drugs are
recommended
for use only after other prescription topical medicines have been tried by
patients, the FDA
said.
The "black-box" warning will be located lower down on the labels of the drugs
than is
typical.
"This is something that is a possible risk — is a long-term possibility and is
something
that still needs to be researched," FDA spokeswoman Susan Cruzan said.
Novartis Pharmaceuticals, which makes Elidel, said in a statement Thursday that
it
remained confident in the safety and efficacy of Elidel.
"While Novartis believes this action is not substantiated by scientific or
clinical evidence,
Novartis has agreed to make the requested changes," the company said.
Astellas Pharma Inc., formed through the merger of Protopic maker Fujisawa
Healthcare
Inc. and Yamanouchi Pharmaceutical Co., did not immediately return an e-mail
seeking
comment.
Animal tests have shown an increase in cancer associated with the drugs, and a
small
number of cancers have been reported in children and adults treated with the
drugs, FDA
said last year. No causal link between use of the drugs and cancer has been
established,
the FDA said.
Elidel and Protopic are applied to the skin to control eczema by suppressing the
immune
system.
© 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be
published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, August 8th, 2006 at 7:59 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.