History of Hoffman-LaRoche and Accutane
F. Hoffman-LaRoche, Ltd. is a healthcare company based out of Switzerland that is dedicated to the production of pharmaceuticals and medical research. The company has several offices around the world including many in the United States.
Throughout its history, Hoffman-LaRoche acquired several other laboratories, research facilities, and pharmaceutical companies as it expanded around the globe.
Accutane
In the early 1980s, Hoffman-LaRoche first began marketing Accutane as acne medication. The drug was intended for people who suffered from stubborn cystic acne and millions of people were prescribed Accutane to help them battle deep, painful blemishes. Although some side effects were made obvious from the beginning such as dry skin, hair loss, and skin irritation, it remained popular among those that suffered from acne.
It was several years before the first serious reports of side effects began to filter through, but the red flags were evident in thousands of consumers. The first side effect that began to show an obvious presence was birth defects in children born to women who took the drug while pregnant. These included devastating birth defects and complications such as:
- Facial deformities
- Hearing problems
- Sight problems
- Mental development issues
- Heart issues
- Issues in the central nervous system
These and other problems began causing people to question the safety of Accutane and look for other side effects that could be problematic.
Soon after, other side effects began to cause people to come forth with complaints against Hoffman-LaRoche. Digestive issues were among the most commonly issued complaints and included issues such as:
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Ulcerative colitis
- Crohn’s disease
These problems are incurable at this time and in some extreme cases may require life-long medical treatment, extreme lifestyle and dietary changes, and in the worst cases, the surgical removal of some of the digestive tract. Victims of these types of diseases will most likely require life-long treatment and have to adhere to extreme dietary restrictions.
Other issues that have been linked to Accutane use include the development of depression, with some users reporting suicidal thoughts. Because of the use of strong chemicals intended to fight cystic acne, many people began reporting instances of extreme mood swings and depression. The side effects included:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Suicidal thoughts
- Psychosis
The manifestation of these side effects caused the FDA to release serious warnings about Accutane use, and eventually, in 2009, Hoffman-LaRoche decided to take Accutane off the market, citing business reasons as their cause for doing so.
Anyone who has suffered from the negative side effects of Accutane use has the right to investigate their legal options with a trusted pharmaceutical liability attorney. Because Hoffman-LaRoche is responsible for the safety of their products, many large settlements have already been attained by victims of this dangerous drug.
