EU body warns against Velcade use in some patients

LONDON, March 20 (Reuters) - The European Medicines Agency has recommended that Millennium Pharmaceuticals Inc's MLNM.O cancer drug Velcade should not be used in patients with certain severe pulmonary or heart problems.

The watchdog said a review of all available information showed the benefits of Velcade were generally greater than its risks, except in patients with acute diffuse infiltrative pulmonary and pericardial disease.

Velcade is approved to treat patients with multiple myeloma who have received at least one prior therapy. (Reporting by Ben Hirschler; editing by Rory Channing)