Cancer drug Iressa has a higher rate of a potentially fatal side effect then what was demonstrated in an earlier study, AstraZeneca said last week.
“A new 10-month study involving 3,322 lung cancer patients found 5.8 percent of them suffered interstitial pneumonia within eight weeks of starting treatment with Iressa, with a mortality rate of 2.3 percent due to the pneumonia,” Reuters reported.
Iressa has been linked to the death of 444 patients worldwide. The majority of the reports of incidence of interstitial pneumonia have occurred in patients taking Iressa in Japan.
“We don’t think the result means that there has been an increase in the incidence of side effects, but rather that we are getting a more accurate picture,” said Masuhiro Kato, senior vice president of Japanese unit AstraZeneca K.K.
About 170,000 patients have taken Iressa worldwide, of which one-third were Japanese, AstraZeneca said.
(via Reuters)
8 responses so far ↓
Donna // Dec 27, 2004 at 9:48 am
Does Iressa cause severe lower back pain
My husband has just started taking Iressa
Julie Ann // Feb 15, 2005 at 7:15 am
I am looking to see if anyone on Iressa has experience excessive Bleeding especially nose bleeds.. Please give me some input back on this. My husband was On Iressa from May 2003 until Sept 25th 2004. This could save someones life. thank you
Betsy Humphreys // Mar 9, 2005 at 3:12 pm
I’m afraid I do not have any good feedback regarding the cancer drug Iressa. My husband was put on this drug in June of 2003 and died the next month. This drug caused his cancer tumors to grow more rapidly and caused severe blood clots. For some cancer patients this drug may help but that’s a small minority. Good Luck to you all and God Bless.
tim maiers // Jun 9, 2005 at 8:14 am
haven’t experienced any major side affects, however been on iressa for 7 months and not sure to continue. nslc
lung cancer 2003 and mets to small colon
2004. is there any data which suggests that to stop use or continue to use? havent had any return to date thanks tim
Julie Ann // Aug 20, 2005 at 7:57 am
I am still looking for people that have had problems with their loved ones or themselves while taking Iressa… My husband bleed to death 10 months ago… He was on Iressa… cause of death Excessive Nosebleeds… Please respond to this if you have experienced the same thing… or your loved one has… He was not on any blood thinners nor was his blood work off to warrant a bleed of this magnitude… I am a widow at 46.. Any imput would be greatly appreciated… Thank you Julie Ann
Kathy // Aug 24, 2005 at 9:39 pm
My husband started Iressa March 04 died April 04, icreased blood clots phenominia ect. blew up like a balloon, kept complainig to his doctor that he felt worse being on it and he wouldn’t listen. He was doing good on regular chemo.
Kathy // Aug 24, 2005 at 9:44 pm
It’s me again sorry for the spelling, but I am still upset over this Iressa. I was 46 years old also when my husband passed away the Doctor said that he wasn’t responding to the chemo, but my husband worked 40 hours a week we went out on friday nights. Once he started Iressa it was all down hill. He died at home with me which was so hard on me. I want this Iressa to be stopped. Also I have MS so it is so hard on me… Thanks for listening.
Laurie Mullen // Oct 3, 2005 at 2:40 pm
Does anyone know if a class action suit has been filed re: Iressa? My mom was put on this “miracle drug” and died 2 months later.
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