Drug trials aren’t working. On September 18, 2018, Health Canada released a MedEffect Notice for atezolizumab, sold as the brand name Tecentriq. Tecentriq is a cancer immunotherapy drug recommended for lung and bladder cancer patients whose diseases progressed after treatment with platinum-containing chemotherapy. Tecentriq falls under the Health Canada category of biologics/vaccines and may cause the immune system to attack healthy cells and tissues, creating organ damage and malfunction. Warnings about Tecentriq are being sent to the public and health care providers because, as of May 31, 2018, 28 cases of immune-related nephritis (inflammation of the kidneys caused by immune system disorders) have been reported, with 13 confirmed by biopsy. Health Canada is working to change the product monograph to include the new warning information but has no plan to make the product safer.

Read the full posting