Accutane has been manufactured and marketed by the Swiss drug company, Hoffman-La Roche as a long-term treatment for severe acne that does not respond to other forms of treatment. About 13 million people have taken Accutane since it was introduced in 1982. Accutane has been associated with several serious side effects including birth defects, depression and suicidal tendencies, and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Accutane and IBD
The term IBD is an umbrella term for several poorly understood diseases, including ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, that are caused by chronic inflammation of the intestinal tract. There is no scientific or epidemiologic study that directly links Accutane to IBD. However, in recent years, over 400 law suits have been filed against Hoffman-LaRoche alleging that Accutane treatment caused IBD in patients without a prior history of intestinal disorders. Three of these cases have recently gone to trial.
The first case of this series went to trial in May 2007 in New Jersey, the company domicile in the United States. The plaintiff Andrew McCarrell, an Alabama resident, developed IBD after taking the drug in 1995. He had to undergo multiple surgeries and ultimately had his colon removed The jury found that Roche failed to adequately warn of the bowel disease risks associated with Accutane and its failure was the proximate cause of McCarrell’s bowel disease. He was awarded $119,000 for past medical expenses and $2.5 million in compensatory damages for future medical costs and pain and suffering.
In the second case reaching trial, Adam Mason, a Florida resident also suffering from IBD, sued Hoffman-LaRoche in 2001. Mason took Accutane for nine years starting in 1991. He was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease and ultimately had his colon completely removed following two surgeries. Following the surgeries, he suffered from persistent diarrhea, fatigue, and depression to the point that he was not able to continue working. A Florida jury found Hoffman-LaRoche liable and awarded Mason $7 million in October 2007. Hoffman-LaRoche appealed the verdict. However, its appeal was denied by the appellate court and the $7 million award was upheld.
In the third tried case, a Utah resident Kamie Kendall sued Hoffman-LaRoche after her colon was removed in 2006 following Accutane therapy. Kendall started taking Accutane at the age of 12 and was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at the age 14. The jury awarded her $10.5 million in compensatory damages and $78,500 for medical expenses.
If you or a loved one have been injured as a result of Accutane treatment, contact us immediately. We are here to aggressively pursue your rights against the manufacturer of this drug.