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Ketek
Ketek (telithromycin) is a ketolide-class antibiotic manufactured by Sanofi-Aventis. Approved by the FDA in April 2004, the drug has been prescribed over five million times for the treatment of bacterial sinusitis, pneumonia, and chronic bronchitis. The drug has come under fire in recent months upon allegations of adverse Ketek side effects, which include liver damage, liver failure, and death. Other side effects include exacerbation of myasthenia gravis, an autoimmune disorder that causes progressive muscle weakening. A Congressional investigation is attempting to determine why the drug was approved even after a physician was convicted of fraud in clinical trials of Ketek.
Fast Facts
| Name: | Ketek |
| Generic: | Telithromycin |
| Manufacturer: | Sanofi-Aventis |
| Date approved: | April 2004 |
| Status: | Prescription only |
| Approved uses: | Treatment of bacterial sinusitis, pneumonia, and chronic bronchitis |
| Off-Label uses: | N/A |
| Side effects: | Liver damage, liver failure, and death. Other side effects include exacerbation of myasthenia gravis, an autoimmune disorder that causes progressive muscle weakening. |
| Related topics: | Unsafe drugs |
Ketek Side Effects Include Liver Damage, Death
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has ordered pharmaceuticals manufacturer Sanofi-Aventis to put more strident side effects warning on the... read more
Liver Damage: Real Risk for Ketek Patients
Patients around the world turn to Ketek (telithromycin), a popular antibiotic in the ketolide class that has been prescribed over five million times in the quest to treat pneumonia, chronic... read more
View the Ketek Main Articles page here
FDA Information Related to Ketek
FDA Announces Label and Indication Changes for the Antibiotic Ketek
February 2007 Monthly Safety Labeling
View the Ketek FDA Information page here
Government Articles Related to Ketek
Telithromycin (marketed as Ketek) Information
Telithromycin (marketed as Ketek) Questions and Answers
View the Ketek Government Articles page here
MSN Newsfeeds Related to Ketek
CQ's Carey Discusses Bush's FY 2009 Budget, Private Fee-for-Service ...
US health authorities called as part of Sanofi's Ketek probe - report
View the Ketek MSN Newsfeeds page here
News Articles Related to Ketek
Ketek May Cause Serious Hepatotoxicity
Antibiotic Ketek Gets Liver-Failure Warning
View the Ketek News Articles page here
Patents Related to Ketek
View the Ketek Patents page here
Useful Web Sites Related to Ketek
Ketek Information from the British NetDoctor Site
View the Ketek Useful Web Sites page here
Books Related to Ketek
Antimicrobial Peptides and Human Disease (Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology)
Modern chemotherapy of tuberculosis (Antibiotics monographs) (Antibiotics monographs)
View the Ketek Books page here
