Bayer decided to pull out the cancer drug after meeting the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on reports of the its side effects including fainting.
Leukine is used to cut infections in leukemia patients who underwent chemotherapy and to prolong the lives of people, who have failed bone marrow grafts, citing a statement released Wednesday.
Bayer made the decision after consulting with the FDA amid reports of fainting and other adverse reactions linked to a substance in the vial of the liquid version. It is reformulating the medicine to remove the substance known as edentate disodium. There has been no increase in the side effects of the alternative formulation, it said.
Bayer plans to restore U.S. supplies to current levels as quickly as possible. It is working on a program to give patients access to a different formulation of the medicine.
