Accutane IBD Lawsuits on Docket in New Jersey in 2011

Newark, NJA number of Accutane IBD lawsuits are set to go to trial in the state of New Jersey during 2011 after an appeals court decision in August reversed the verdict in one case and delayed another.

Accutane, an acne medication, has been used by approximately 16 million people since its introduction to the American market in 1982. Since that time, the drug has been linked to severe cases of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. In 2009, Accutane use was discontinued in the US.

Thus far, more than 2,500 people have filed a lawsuit in New Jersey state court regarding Accutane against the maker of the drug, Roche. While many of these cases have concluded with out-of-court settlements, the drugmaker has also lost a number of the lawsuits.

In August, the New Jersey Superior Court Appellate Division reversed a $10.5 million decision in one of these lawsuits that was brought against Roche by Kamie Kendall, who allegedly suffered severe bowel issues after taking Accutane.

With this reversal, other lawsuits regarding the drug have been delayed, including one filed by actor James Marshall, who, after taking Accutane, allegedly developed severe IBD that required that his colon be removed.

According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, other potential Accutane side effects include headaches, fevers or blurred vision.