US FDA Should Warn About Eczema Drug Risk-Panel

Two topical creams used to treat the skin condition eczema need a stronger warning on their labels about the possible risk of cancer, U.S. medical experts said on Tuesday. The panelists told the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that the drugs, which include Novartis AG's Elidel and Fujisawa Healthcare Inc.'s Protopic, should have a so-called black box warning that also would emphasize that the medicines should not be used in patients younger than two. Panel members said they were concerned the companies were aggressively advertising the medicines to treat infants and others with skin problems the creams are not approved to treat.