Trial History of Accutane Shows Mixed Results

More than 5,000 people are currently pursuing an Accutane lawsuit against Roche over severe bowel problems allegedly caused by the medication. The complaints involve allegations that the drug maker failed to adequately research their medication or warn users about the risk of debilitating Inflammatory Bowel Disease from Accutane, such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. People often suffered from Accutane side effects years later after using the medication. It has been shown in recent studies that the suicide rate among Accutane users may be as high as 2 suicides per month. In addition, these suicides occur in healthy people with no signs of depression or suicidal thoughts before they started using this product. Despite efforts by the FDA in 1999 to warn users of suicide risk, Accutane suicide is climbing in numbers.

One man, Andrew McCarrell of Moody, Alabama, had taken the drug for acne when he was in his 20’s and developed inflammatory bowel disorder. He sued Hoffmann-La Roche Incorporated in 2007 for failing to warn of the drugs side effects. He won that case and Hoffmann-La Roche appealed. An appeals court ordered the new trial after overturning a $2.62 million award he won in May 2007. The compensatory damages award came Tuesday in a retrial and awarded Andrew $25 million. A jury took over three hours to deliberate before a unanimous decision was reached. The jury also awarded McCarrell $159,000 for past medical expenses.

The AADA (American Academy of Dermatology Association) said that the evidence presented so far had not convinced the organization of Accutane bowel risks or that the medication itself poses a suicide risk, instead indicating that any increased suicide risk is most likely due to the psychological effects of acne. Despite this, lawsuits are moving forward in relation to these side effects. James Marshall, a promising Hollywood actor whose Accutane-related bowel disorder ended his career, sought eleven million dollars from La Roche. The trial, which took place in New Jersey, did not end up in his favor. He and another plaintiff were both concluded to have developed Crohn’s disease due to prior conditions and that Accutane was not to blame.