Study Finds Rheumatoid Arthritis Drugs Triple Patient Cancer Risk

CHICAGO - Researchers have reported results of a new meta-analysis study that found rheumatoid arthritis patients taking the injectable drugs Humira or Remicade are at higher risk of developing several kinds of cancer or serious infections.

The study, published in the May 17 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, reported that Abbott Laboratories' Humira (adalimumab) and Centocor's Remicade (infliximab) may triple patients' risk of developing skin, gastrointestinal, breast and lung cancer. The findings also said that the risk is greatest with higher doses of the drugs.

Previous studies about risks associated with the anti-TNF (tumor necrosis factor) …