On October 2, 2008, Genentech informed healthcare professionals that a 70-year-old patient who has been treated with efalizumab (Raptiva) for chronic psoriasis for >4 years has developed progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), a rare, progressive disease of the central nervous system that is usually fatal. Genentech has stated that they will work with FDA to update the prescribing information for this agent and to determine if further action needs to be taken.

Last month, Genentech and Biogen Idec reported a fatal case of the same disease in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis who was treated with rituximab (Rituxan) in a long-term safety extension clinical trial.