Texas Adcetris Lawyer

If you have taken Adcetris and developed a brain infection or Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML), contact a Texas Adcetris Lawyer at The Clark Firm, LLP. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a safety communication warning people who take Adcetris that they should contact their physician if they show signs of serious brain infections that are incurable and can cause permanent disability or death.

Do I Have a Adcetris Lawsuit? Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged. If you or a loved one has been injured after taking Adcetris, you should contact our lawyers immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a Adcetris lawsuit.

What is Adcetris?

Adcetris (brentuximab vedotin) is a cancer medication used to treat people who have Hodgkin lymphoma after the failure of other treatments, such as stem cell therapy or at least two chemotherapy treatments. It is also used to treat patients who have systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) after failure of at least one chemotherapy regimen.

Adcetris is made by Seattle Genetics, Inc. and received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on August 19, 2011. It was fast-tracked through the FDA approval process after it showed promise in early clinical trials. The fast-track process allows promising medications to reach patients who have serious, life-threatening diseases, such as cancer, before more thorough safety studies have been conducted. As a condition of the fast-track process, the drug company must conduct continuing research.

When Adcetris was approved, the company and the FDA were aware of one case of Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML), a type of serious brain infection. Since Adcetris was approved, two additional cases of PML have been confirmed. This additional safety information has prompted the FDA to update the label with a Boxed Warning to make patients aware that brain infections may be a side effect of using Adcetris. Patients and the physicians who prescribe this medication should be on the lookout for early warning signs of a brain infection.

What are the warning signs of an Adcetris Brain Infection?

A brain infection, such as Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML), can develop in a few weeks or a few months. The symptoms become progressively worse over time, and can become permanently disabling or deadly. These symptoms include:

• Headaches
• Changes in mood or behavior
• Unusual behavior
• Confusion
• Thinking problems
• Memory loss
• Changes in vision, speech, or walking
• Decreased strength
• Weakness on one side of the body
• Weakness of the arms or legs that gets worse

What is Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML) / Brain Infections?

Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a brain infection. It is caused by a virus called the John Cunningham (JC) virus, which exists in 40-80% of the adult U.S. population in a latent form that usually causes no problems. Sometimes, people who have weakened immune systems (such as people with cancer), may suffer a reactivation of this virus.

The virus attacks a part of the brain called the “myelin,” which is a protective covering for nerves in the white matter of the brain. It is made up of protein and fatty tissue, and makes nerve impulses travel through the nerves more quickly and efficiently. When a person develops PML, the result is almost always severe, permanent damage to the central nervous system.

The rate of PML in people with hematologic malignancies is estimated to be one in 1,400 patients. More than 2,000 patients have been treated with Acedtris.

There is no way to prevent this type of brain infection. Once a person has this infection, there is no effective treatment. The only treatment involves medications to support the immune system. However, in patients who already have a compromised immune-system, prognosis is not good.

Do I have an Adcetris Lawsuit?

Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged.

Collen’s amazing success in the courtroom and well known dedication to his clients has earned him the recognition of his peers as one of The Top Trial Lawyers in Texas.”

The Clark Firm has assembled a team of trial lawyers with more than 100 years experience, participation in over 600 jury trials and $60 million in verdicts and/or settlements. Please use the form below to contact us for a free Adcetris lawsuit review.