Accutane IBD Victims Awarded $12.9 Million

Three Florida residents who took Accutane as teens and developed inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)have been awarded $12.89 million by a jury in Atlantic City.

The jury found that the makers of Accutane, Hoffman-La Roche, failed to provide adequate warning of the possible condition to three patients who began taking the drug as teenagers and shortly thereafter developed severe forms of IBD. The jury awarded compensatory damages to be apportioned among the 3 individuals, now aged in their mid-to-late 20s.

The verdict capped a 5-week trial in New Jersey State Superior Court and follows a series of recent plaintiffs' wins against Roche over allegations that Accutane was a cause of severe bowel maladies, in some cases even after the plaintiffs discontinued use of the drug.

The 3 plaintiffs are all Florida residents -- Kelly Mace, 25, of Pensacola, along with Jordan Speisman, 27, of Gainesville, and Lance Sager, 28, of Ft. Lauderdale. All were first prescribed Accutane nearly a decade ago while still in their teens to relieve adolescent acne. All 3 succumbed to various forms of IBD, including ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, while taking Accutane or shortly thereafter. Mr. Speisman is expected to shortly undergo surgical removal of his colon; Ms. Mace and Mr. Sager will rely on medications in an effort to manage their disease in the future. As a result of their disease, all suffer from a dramatic increased risk of colon cancer.