Accutane Recall: Competition or Lawsuit Fear?
Friday, 04 February 2011 00:00
The Accutane Recall - Fear of IBD Side Effect Lawsuits?
Accutane was a medication that was manufactured by Roche AG that was used to fight severe forms of acne. For many years it enjoyed enormous sales around the world, but over time reports of serious Accutane side effects began to surface. As a result, Accutane injury lawyers were contacted around the world to file Accutane lawsuits. In addition, Roche AG announced in 2009 that it was pulling Accutane from the market. While the company announced that it was initiating the Accutane recall because of increased competition from generics, many felt this decision was made because of potential liability. Below is a brief discussion of this issue.
Acne Drug Recalled for Generics or Legal Liability?
While there were many different specific Accutane side effects that were reportedly experienced, most of these Accutane side effects dealt with problems with the bowels and the intestines. Specifically, the most common Accutane side effects included inflammatory bowel disease or IBD, ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. These side effects can inflict serious and permanent damage on people and in some situations they can be deadly.
To date, estimates indicate that more than 5,000 Accutane lawsuits have been filed against Roche AG as a result of the suffering that was described above. While many of these Accutane lawsuits are slowly working their way through the court system, those that have reached a verdict have generally come back in favor of those who had been harmed by Accutane side effects.
Accutane Lawsuits For Side Effects May Continue
Even though Roche AG stated that Accutane was recalled because of the increase in competition from generic equivalents due to the loosening of the patent, there are facts that cannot be denied that fit into this context. First, Accutane had suffered a precipitous decline in revenue as the news of Accutane side effects continued to spread. Secondly, Accutane side effects lawsuits began to be filed at a rapid pace. This would catch the notice of any corporate concern.
Overall, whether Accutane was pulled because of competition or because of liability does not matter to those who have been harmed by Accutane side effects. If this includes you or someone you love, contact the Accutane lawyers at the Phillips National Injury Group today to schedule a free initial consultation.