Under new regulations and guidelines recently approved by American regulators, health providers who undertake the treatment of cancer patients with a particular class of medicines now need to be trained in their proper use, and also document that they have informed the patients of all potential risk factors involved.

Announced on Tuesday, the new guidelines also demand that all patients treated with the drugs, commonly known as erythropoiesis-stimulating agents, or ESAs, receive a booklet which would outline the risk and benefits of these medicines.

The new guidelines would take effect from March 24, and will specifically apply to Amgen Inc's Epogen and Aranesp, as well as Johnson & Johnson's Procrit, as has been confirmed by the companies.

Although the drugs are widely used by patients of dialysis as well, the new guidelines apply only to cancer patients.

The risk management plan has been under constant discussion since April of 2008.