Cimzia (certolizumab pegol) is an autoimmune disorder drug belonging to a family of drugs known as tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors. Recently, Cimzia, along with several other TNF blockers, were linked to an increased risk of cancer among patients taking the drug, specifically among young adults and children.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) launched an investigation into the TNF blockers after at least 30 cases of cancer among children consuming the drugs were reported during a ten-year period from 1998 to 2008, according to a September 2008 news article from Reuters.

TNF Blockers Under Investigation

TNF inhibitors were first approved by the FDA in 1998. A book known as "Arthritis Without Pain" that was published in 2000 and revised in 2004, describes TNF inhibitors as a "miracle" drug, and that no known negative side effects or symptoms existed, however, this "miracle" theory was recently challenged by the FDA's findings that the Cimzia may cause cancer. Of the TNF blockers under investigation are those that are used to treat autoimmune disorders and include:

• Remicade (infliximab)
• Humira (adalimumab)
• Enbrel (etanercept)
• Cimzia (certolizumab pegol)

According to the Mayo Clinic, TNF blockers are most often associated with the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, in which the "wear and tear on joints" causes inflammation within the bones and joints. Nearly 2 million individuals in America suffer from the arthritic condition and it is most commonly found in women rather than in men. Additional TNF blocker side effects include:

• headache
• fever
• nausea
• chills
• myalgia

What is Cimzia?

Cimzia is used specifically to treat Crohn's disease a condition in which the digestive tract becomes inflamed and adversely affects the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC).

Additional Cimzia Side Effects

In addition to the serious risk associated with developing cancer while consuming Cimzia, the drug also contains other various side effects that may cause severe damage to an individual's health, according to an article in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC). Cimzia side effects include:

• headache
• diarrhea
• fever
• abdominal paint
• upper respiratory infection
• nausea
• reactions to the injection area

Cimzia was approved in April 2008 for use on the market by the FDA and while results from a clinical trial published in The New England Journal of Medicine, the drug is already being investigated for the potential risk of cancer as well as the risk of developing life-threatening infections.

Pharmaceutical Legal Assistance

Patients who have taken Cimzia or any of the additional TNF blockers and those who may be at risk for the potential Cimzia-induced cancer risk should seek medical attention immediately. Any type of cancer that can be caught early will likely result in a better outcome than one that is not detected until it has advanced to untreatable stages.

While the FDA has found an alleged link between TNF inhibitors including Cimzia and an increase in developing cancerous cells, they have not recalled any of the drugs nor have they increased the warning label of Cimzia, although all of the TNF blockers allegedly carry a cancer warning label. As part of the investigation, the FDA has asked that all cases of children and young adult cancer reports are given to the FDA immediately upon diagnosis.

Manufacturers of Cimzia, UCB, are currently preparing for a 10-year study to better understand the Cimzia side effects. The study will begin in 2009. However, patients who have taken the drug and currently are at risk for or suffering from the Cimzia dangers are advised to contact a pharmaceutical attorney regarding the development of a Cimzia class action lawsuit. Developing a Cimzia case may allow for monetary compensation for damages that were attributed to the consumption of the drug.