FDA to Discuss Possible Link Between Lymphoma
and New Rheumatoid Arthritis Therapies

WASHINGTON - The March meeting of the FDA advisory committee will reportedly focus on whether three biogenic treatments for rheumatoid arthritis can increase the risk of lymphoma in some patients, pharmaceutical experts predict. FDA officials have refused to disclose specific information regarding the nature of the review scheduled for March 4 and 5. However, Roger Perlmutter, M.D., Ph.D., Amgen's executive vice president of research and development, alluded to the agency's upcoming evaluation of rheumatoid arthritis therapies during the company's fourth-quarter conference call, according to a Jan. 28 article that appeared on CBS MarketWatch.Com. Financial analysts believe …