The FDA announced today that prescribing information for TNF blockers must include stronger warnings—including an updated boxed warning—highlighting the increased risk of cancer in children and adolescents, says the FDA.
Youths are prescribed TNF blockers such as infliximab (Remicade), etanercept (Enbrel), and adalimumab (Humira) to treat psoriasis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, and other inflammatory diseases. The agents target and neutralize TNF-alpha, a protein that can be overproduced in the presence of chronic inflammatory diseases and can cause inflammation and damage to bones, cartilage, and tissue.
The FDA has taken the action of requiring a stronger warning based on an investigation the agency first announced in June 2008.
An analysis of US reports of cancer in children and adolescents treated with TNF-blockers showed an increased risk of cancer, occurring after an average of 30 months of treatment. About half of the cancers were lymphomas, and some of the reported cancers were fatal.
Given these risks, the question needs to be asked are the drugs worth their risks? The answer depends on the severity of the disease being treated with the TNF blocker. For mild to moderate psoriasis, TNF blockers are not prescribed, and patients must rely on UV therapy or topical treatments which have very limited effectiveness. Even for severe psoriasis, which is not life threatening, it would seem there needs to be better, less risky options.
Enter Tinefcon, the new herbal psoriasis treatment from Just Look Natural Health.
Tinefcon has been shown in clinical trials to be almost as effective as the most toxic of the TNF blockers listed above. But its herbal nature means it is gentler and has a much more favourable side effect profile. (Tinefcon’s key ingredient has been used safely for hundreds of year in ayurvedic medicine, and is even consumed as food in some regions of India.)
Further, for those tired of the constant regimen of injections of psoriasis medications, Tinefcon comes in tablet form. Given these advantages, it is likely only matter of time before many people start using Tinefcon to stop the suffering caused by their psoriasis.