The Cochran Firm Legal Blog

On Friday, Roche decided to pull its brand name drug Accutane from the US market after losing at least $33 million to victims who filed pharmaceutical injury (dangerous drug) lawsuits against the company. Accutane was Roche's second-best-selling drug until the patent on the formula expired in 2002 and generic versions became available. Now, the brand name drug holds less than 5 percent of the US market.

Patients who took the acne drug and experienced inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or other conditions have claimed, in nearly 5000 personal injury lawsuits, that the drug maker failed to properly warn them that the drug increased their risk for IBD. The danger became evident in pre-approval clinical trials, but, according to plaintiffs, was not made sufficiently clear on the drug's labeling. Roche had hoped that a favorable verdict in the Supreme Court case Levine v. Wyeth, decided March 4, 2009, might save them from lawsuits. Instead, the verdict established a clear burden for drug companies to warn people taking their drugs, and Roche has been unable to show it took adequate steps to warn people of this danger. Read more about Accutane, preemption, and IBD.

If you suffered serious side effects as a result of using Accutane or another dangerous drug, schedule a free consultation with the pharmaceutical injury lawyers at The Cochran Firm. Our nationwide network of lawyers and resources allows us to stand up for you against major opponents like pharmaceutical manufacturers and win.

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