Mixed news for anemia drugs as FDA panel votes for more restrictions

In what was a surprise to some and a mixed message to others, the US Food and Drug Administration's Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee voted to keep US biotechnology giant Amgen and pharmaceutical major Johnson & Johnson's erythropoiesis-stimulating agents on the market, but with further restrictions.

The drugs in question are: Amgen's Aranesp (darbepoetin alfa) and Epogen (epoetin alfa), which in 2006 generated revenues of some $6.6 billion for the firm but sales have fallen sharply since the safety concerns emerged early last year, dropping to around $2.0 billion last year (Marketletters passim); and J&J's Procrit (epoetin alfa), which is marketed by its Ortho Biotech division but is a less important component of the group's sales and earnings. It contributed $2.9 billion of its $63.6 billion total 2007 turnover.