Risky Eczema Drugs
Two topical creams used to treat the skin condition eczema need a stronger warning on their labels about the possible risk of cancer, medical experts say.
The panelists told the FDA that the drugs—pimecrolimus (Elidel®, Novar-tis) and generic tacrolimus (Protopic®, Fuji-sawa)—should have a “black-box” warning to emphasize that they should not be used in patients younger than two years of age. At issue is whether the drugs, which treat eczema by suppressing the body’s immune response, can allow skin cancers and lymphoma to develop or whether other factors are at work.
Novartis considers Elidel® safe but agrees that monitoring should continue. Fujisawa officials state that Protopic® does not show an increased cancer risk.
