Health Canada Reports Remicade May Cause Rare, Aggressive Cancer

POINTE CLAIRE, Quebec - New safety information regarding Remicade shows a possible association of the TNF-blocker with a rare form of cancer in children and young adults with Crohn's disease, according to a statement sent to health care professionals by Health Canada in cooperation with Centocor Inc. and Schering Canada Inc.

Health Canada followed up the July 24 statement to the medical community with an announcement on July 27 informing the public that six cases of a rare type of lymphoma called hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma (HSTCL) have been reported in young patients taking Remicade (infliximab) for Crohn's disease, with five …