Zevalin

Zevalin is an injection that is administered to cancer patients—often times along with another drug called Rituximab. It is manufactured by Biogen Idec. and was approved by the FDA in 2002.

The FDA knew before its approval that Zevalin was a dangerous drug, and required that a black box warning be added to its label to warn against serious side effects.

Zevalin, along with Rituximab, has been seen to cause severe allergic reactions, which could cause heart attack, ventricular fibrillation, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), hypotension, bronchospasm, difficulty breathing, swelling of the lips, tongue and face, hives, increased coughing and the closing of the throat. This warning also states that death can occur within 24 hours of administration of Zevalin.

In 2005, the FDA also warned that Zevalin can cause severe skin reactions such as Stevens Johnson syndrome and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN). Both of these conditions can be fatal and extremely painful.