February 16, 2010—A New Jersey jury concluded that Roche Pharmaceuticals was liable to Andrew McCarrell, an Accutane user who developed debilitating inflammatory bowel disease as a result of taking the drug. McCarrell took Accutane in his twenties and was diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease shortly after he began using the drug. He required five surgeries to treat the condition, including removal of his colon.
The jury awarded McCarrell $25.16 million in damages. The jury concluded that the manufacturer of Accutane failed to warn patients of the risks and side effects of Accutane.
Several Accutane cases have reached juries, each time resulting in a finding that Roche Pharmaceuticals was negligent. In total, juries have awarded $56 million to Accutane users harmed by the drug. There are at least 1,000 lawsuits filed against Roche Pharmaceuticals alleging injuries caused by Accutane. |
