More Bad News for EPO

Roche has halted a trial of its new anti-anemia drug Cera in lung cancer patients after those taking the medication died at a quicker rate compared to those not on the drug, the Wall Street Journal reports (subscription required). Cera is basically the same drug as Amgen's Epogen and Aranesp, and Johnson & Johnson's Procrit. Some European researchers believe boosting red blood cell counts -- done to improve the energy levels and psychic well-being of cancer chemotherapy patients -- may actually feed cancer tumors.