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Introduction About Hoffman-La
Roche (The Parent Company of Accutane)
Roche is a leading healthcare company with a uniquely broad
spectrum of innovative solutions. For more than 100 years, they
have been active in the discovery, development, manufacture and
marketing of novel healthcare solutions. Our products and
services address prevention, diagnosis and treatment of
diseases, thus enhancing well-being and quality of life.
Accutane (also known as isotretinoin) is an acne medication
manufactured by Roche Pharmaceuticals. Accutane has come under
scrutiny by the Food & Drug Administration due to psychiatric
side effects, including suicide, depression and other serious
conditions. Some studies may also link Accutane to an increased
risk of colon cancer. Accutane is intended to treat the most
severe form of acne that has been unresponsive to any other type
of acne treatment. The FDA's implementation of the consent form
was due to the claims of patients that claimed they had suffered
serious side effects that they were unaware of the risks
involved with the medication when beginning treatment
Since 1982, there have been 142 suicides involving Accutane. The
FDA has required that doctors and patients sign a lengthy
consent form prior to beginning Accutane therapy acknowledging
they have been informed of the dangers.
In October 2001, Congressman Bart Stupak expressed his concerns
about Accutane following the suicide of his son who happened to
be taking Accutane. Accutane manufacturer has warned physicians
that the acne drug can possibly cause "depression, psychotic
symptoms, and rarely suicide attempts", but still the company
maintains they believe the drug is safe.
In November 2004, the manufacturer of the acne drug Accutane and
companies producing generic versions of the medicine said
yesterday they will step up efforts to reduce the risks of birth
defects by borrowing from a system Celgene uses to restrict
distribution of Thalomid. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration
announced that it has set up a national registry to follow women
of childbearing age who are prescribed the acne drug Accutane,
which has been shown to cause serious birth defects.
ACCUTANE SIDE EFFECTS
Instances of individuals and teenager's parents describing
observations of serious feelings of depression while taking
Accutane have continued to be made. In the U.S. congressional
hearings on the controversy of Accutane has been surrounding the
acne drug. The manufacturer believes that there is no evidence
showing Accutane is responsible for feelings of depression or
suicidal tendencies. Other side effects of Accutane include
brain problems, abdomen problems, bone and muscle problems,
hearing problems, vision problems, lipids or fats and
cholesterol in blood problems, and allergic reactions.
ACCUTANE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT
Drug maker Hoffman-La Roche recently triumphed in the first
trial involving the acne medication Accutane, which has been
linked to suicide in patients. Carla Gray, 38, alleged she
became severely depressed after using Accutane for several
years, a psychological effect that she claimed eventually
destroyed her marriage.
At the trial, though, an Oklahoma jury agreed with defense
attorneys, who argued that no scientific evidence exists proving
Accutane's link to depression or suicide. According to defense
attorneys, only anecdotal case studies exist Plaintiff attorneys
say the Oklahoma verdict will have only a minimal effect on
future cases. Last month, the mother of Charles Bishop, the
15-year-old pilot who committed suicide by flying a stolen
Cessna into a Tampa high rise, filed a $70 million wrongful
death lawsuit against La Roche after it was discovered that the
teenager may have used Accutane before his death
Furthermore, a law firm by the
name of the Kahn Gauthier Law Group is investigating possible
Accutane lawsuits against Hoffman-La Roche, Inc., manufacturer
of the prescription acne drug Accutane, to recover for
psychological damage--sometimes leading to suicide--suffered by
Accutane users. As of late 2000, the federal Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) had received reports of 1,373 other
psychiatric adverse events in Accutane users. Accutane was
approved in 1982 to treat only a very special type of
acne--severe nodular acne that had not responded to other
therapies. Critics estimate that most of the 500,000 people in
the United States who try it each year have acne too mild for
the Accutane.
ACCUTANE RECALL
There has been no recall to date.
FINDING A ACCUTANE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT LAWYER
The law firms featured at the top of the page can assist you
with filing your claim in the
Accutane Class Action Lawsuit, or in filing a separate lawsuit,
outside the Class Action.
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