Roche Holding AG, the drug manufacturer that produces Accutane, has been ordered to pay $25.16 million in damages to Andrew McCarrell for injuries caused by taking the drug. McCarrell took the acne medication in 1995 and suffered inflammatory bowel disease as a result. His injuries required five surgeries, including one to remove his colon.
The verdict was the largest awarded in an Accutane trial. Five other Accutane users won damage awards as well. Including McCarrell, Roche must pay $56 million to the victims. The company is currently facing more than 1,000 other defective drug claims regarding Accutane.
The medication, which was released in 1982, has been linked with an increased risk of inflammatory bowel disease, birth defects, and depression. An estimated 13 million people have used the drug over the past 28 years.
In June 2009, Roche decided to remove Accutane from the market, citing the prohibitive cost of defending defective drug lawsuits and an abundance of generic competitors as the reason for the move.
Despite the large verdicts awarded to plaintiffs in these Accutane lawsuits , Roche insists it has provided fair and adequate warning of the risks associated with their product. They plan to appeal the verdict.
If you have been injured as a result of using Accutane, you may be entitled to receive compensation for your damages. It is important to work with a defective drug lawyer who possesses the skills, experience, and resources to take on the high-powered attorneys employed by the pharmaceutical company.
If you have an Accutane claim in the Baltimore, Maryland area, please contact the defective drug lawyers at The Yost Legal Group today.
