US probes cancer in children given arthritis drugs

U.S. health officials are investigating whether drugs used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn’s disease are linked to cases of lymphoma and other cancers in children and young adults, the Food and Drug Administration said on Wednesday.

The drugs are members of a family called TNF blockers. The medicines include Johnson & Johnson’s Remicade, Abbott Laboratories Inc’s Humira, and Amgen Inc and Wyeth’s Enbrel.

The FDA said it was probing about 30 reports of cancer in children and young adults treated with the drugs between 1998, when the first TNF blocker was approved, and April 29, 2008.

A fourth TNF blocker, UCB’s Cimzia, won FDA approval on April 22, 2008.

The FDA said it asked the makers of Remicade, Enbrel and Humira to provide information about all cases of cancer reported in children treated with TNF blockers. UCB is required to conduct a study to assess long-term risks of Cimzia, including cancer, the agency said.

Amgen and Wyeth support the FDA review and will provide any requested information, Amgen spokeswoman Sonia Fiorenza said. Officials at other manufacturers could not immediately be reached for comment.

WASHINGTON (Reuters)