Summaries of Safety Labeling Changes Approved by the FDA: Boxed Warnings Highlights October - December 2016

The FDA's MedWatch program safety labeling changes for boxed warnings are compiled quarterly for drugs and therapeutic biologics where important changes have been made to the safety information. Search of Drug Safety Labeling Changes (SLC) database was conducted on December 31, 2016 for date range “10/1/2016-12/31/2016”, labeling section “Boxed Warning”. These and other label changes are searchable in the Drug Safety Labeling Changes (SLC) database, where data are available to the public in downloadable and searchable formats. (Drug Safety Labeling Changes are available at: http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/safetylabelingchanges/?source=govdelivery&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery.)) Boxed warnings are ordinarily used to highlight either: adverse reactions so serious in proportion to the potential benefit from the drug that it is essential that it be considered in assessing the risks and benefits of using the drug; OR serious adverse reactions that can be prevented/reduced in frequency or severity by appropriate use of the drug; OR FDA approved the drug with restrictions to ensure safe use because FDA concluded that the drug can be safely used only if distribution or use is restricted.