Enbrel: Dear Doctor Letters and Warnings

In an October 2000 Dear Doctor letter, Enbrel's manufacturer warned doctors about about cases of central nervous system (CNS) disorders including demyelinating disorders such as multiple sclerosis (MS), myelitis, and optic neuritis in patients receiving Enbrel therapy for rheumatoid arthritis. The Dear Doctor letter also alerted doctors about adverse event reports involving significant hematological (blood) disorders such as pancytopenia and aplastic anemia.

A May 1999 Dear Doctor letter warned about serious infections reported during Enbrel therapy. The warning letter said thirty of those adverse event reports involved sepsis, and six of those Enbrel patients died.

Enbrel was first introduced in the United States during November 1998.

Enbrel was manufactured by Immunex Corporation. During the summer of 2002, Immunex was purchased for $15 billion by Amgen Incorporated.