FDA report indicates risk of infection, cancer with Enbrel

NEW YORK Amgen’s drug Enbrel cane cause deadly side effects in children, according to a new report released Monday by the Food and Drug Administration.

The drug is used to treat psoriasis in adults and arthritis in adults and children, but an FDA staff review says that it causes infections and cancer in some children with psoriasis. FDA scientists will meet Wednesday to determine whether the agency should approve Enbrel for treating psoriasis in children.

Enbrel had sales of $3.2 billion in 2007, according to Amgen financial reports. Thousand Oaks, Calif.-based Amgen acquired the rights to Enbrel, known generically as etanercept, when it bought Immunex Corp. in July 2002.