(NewsUSA)
- The anti-inflammatory medication dupilumab, marketed as Dupixent, is the subject of a lawsuit alleging a link between the use of the medication and the development of a type of skin cancer known as cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL).
Dupixent is prescribed for several medical conditions including asthma and eczema. CTCL is a type of skin cancer that develops in white blood cells, which help the body fight infection.
Early signs and symptoms of CTCL include red, scaly patches, rashes, lumps and bumps, discoloration, thickened skin, swollen lymph nodes, hair loss, itching, fever and chills, unexplained weight loss, pain or tenderness, and night sweats. As CTCL progresses, the visual changes can affect up to 80% of the skin’s surface. Ultimately, the disease can spread to internal organs, including the spleen and liver.
Dupixent manufacturers Regeneron Pharmaceuticals and Sanofi Genzyme failed to adequately warn of the risks in taking the drug, according to Ellen Relkin, partner in the law firm of Weitz & Luxenberg and practice group chair of the firm’s Drug and Medical Device Litigation team. The law firm of Weitz & Luxenberg is taking legal cases for patients who have and used an anti-inflammatory medication and have been diagnosed with skin cancer.
“Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma is a very rare type of skin cancer. This makes it all the more critical for the manufacturer to warn patients about the danger,” states Relkin.
A study in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology reported an increased risk of CTCL was found in a cohort of atopic dermatitis patients who used dupilumab. “The increased risk persisted after exclusion of prior disease-modifying antirheumatic drug use. Risk was not increased for other cutaneous or lymphoid malignancies,” the researchers wrote.
“Doctors and patients alike need to be sufficiently warned, and patients who take Dupixent, and their doctors, need to keep a careful eye out for any disturbing changes to their skin,” says Ms. Relkin.
“Those who took Dupixent and are suffering deserve compensation. And we are going to help you get it,” she insists.
