Wider eczema warning urged for kids: FDA

Eczema drugs might need expanded warning labels after dozens of new cases were reported of cancer and infection in children, according to documents released by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Reuters reports. According to FDA scientists, 46 cases and 71 infection cases were reported in patients aged 16 and younger between 2004 and 2008, related to Novartis’ Elidel and Astellas’ Protopic. Warnings about cancer and infection are already carried by both drugs, but should be expanded to include new reports, they said, while other FDA representatives said the warning label for Valtrex, a herpes drug, was “insufficient” for some central nervous side effects in children. The FDA will weigh these recommendations before taking any actions.

Reuters