Pharmaceutical company Roche Holding AG, the makers of the acne drug Accutane, has announced that they will be pulling the drug from the U.S. market. They informed the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of their decision this week.
The product recall has come as a result of the large number of lawsuits filed against Roche for pharmaceutical injuries sustained from taking Accutane. Currently, the company has paid over $33 million in damages over Accutane, and there are still more than 5,000 defective drug lawsuits pending against the drug.
Accutane has been linked to the development of inflammatory bowel disease. The majority of lawsuits against the drug claim that Roche failed to properly warn consumers of the dangers of developing this serious condition. Accutane has also been linked to depression and birth injuries.
Roche has also pulled Accutane from the market in 11 other countries, including France, Spain, Denmark, Germany, Austria, Portugal, and Norway.
Despite pulling the drug from the market, Roche has not admitted that the drug poses a danger to consumers. They claim that the primary motivation for the recall is financially-based. In recent years, Accutane has lost a sizeable portion of their market share to generic competitors. This, coupled with the large amount of money Roche has paid in damages and legal fees, has prompted them to abandon their acne medication.
If you have developed a serious condition from taking Accutane, you may be eligible to receive compensation for your damages. It is important to consult an experienced defective drug lawyer at once to see if you have a valid claim.
If you have an Accutane claim in the Denver, Colorado area, please contact the Law Offices of Burg, Simpson, Eldredge, Hersh & Jardine, P.C. today to schedule a consultation.
