Psoriasis Drug Removed from Market, Mark & Associates, P.C. Offering Free Consultations for Raptiva Patients at www.RaptivaPML.Com

April 8, 2009 – Uniondale, New York -- Mark & Associates, P.C., a leading nationwide personal injury law firm, applauds Genentech’s decision to suspend sales of the psoriasis drug Raptiva (efalizumab) in the United States. Mark & Associates, P.C. continues to evaluate cases on behalf of Raptiva patients. Free case consultations are available at www.RaptivaPML.com or by calling 1-866-50-RIGHTS (1-866-507-4448).

On April 8, 2009, Genentech announced that it was suspending sales of Raptiva in the U.S., due to reports of people taking the drug developing Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy or PML. The company advised physicians to immediately stop prescribing Raptiva for new psoriasis patients and to contact patients currently taking the drug to determine the best course of action for treatment. The company’s phased withdrawal of the drug was expected to culminate by June 2009, when Raptiva would no longer be available. As many as 2,000 Americans are taking Raptiva.

Raptiva, which is also known as efalizumab, is an immunosuppressant drug used to treat and prevent psoriasis, a chronic, non-contagious autoimmune disease which causes excess skin production and joint pain. The FDA has recently warned that the Genentech drug, which was approved in October 2003 for the treatment of moderate-to-severe psoriasis in adults, may be linked to several cases of PML.

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is caused by the reactivation of a common virus in the central nervous system of immune-compromised individuals. Polyomavirus JC (often called JC virus) is carried by a majority of people and is harmless except among those with compromised immune systems. The rare disease occurs, rarely, in organ transplant patients; people undergoing chronic corticosteroid or immunosuppressive therapy; and individuals with cancer, such as Hodgkin’s disease, lymphoma, and sarcoidosis.

The recall comes after the FDA required Genentech to put a Black Box Warning on Raptiva’s packaging to alert physicians and users of the increased risks of PML, meningitis, and other life-threatening infections. The FDA had also required Genentech to develop a medication guide and other literature for the packaging.

The European Medicines Agency (EMEA) removed Raptiva from the European market after the FDA latest warning. Shortly, thereafter Health Canada suspended sales of Raptiva in Canada. For more information on Raptiva and progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy please visit www.RaptivaPML.com or http://www.youhaverights.com/dangerous-drugs/raptiva.

About Mark & Associates, P.C.
Mark & Associates, P.C. is a leading personal injury and products liability law firm with offices in Boston, Massachusetts and Long Island, New York. The firm aggressively represents victims of defective pharmaceuticals and medical devices, dangerous consumer products, bad faith insurance denials, toxic exposure, and serious auto and common carrier accidents. For more information on Mark & Associates, P.C., visit http://www.youhaverights.com.

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Jason Mark

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Mark & Associates, P.C.

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