A federal appeals court in Atlanta is scheduled to hear arguments Tuesday over whether a U.S. district court judge in Florida should have dismissed testimony from an expert witness who would have testified that the anti-acne drug Accutane is linked to medical problems.
The argument is central to the case for nine plaintiffs who say the medication, distributed by New Jersey-based Hoffmann-La Roche, caused adverse health effects.
Similar lawsuits have also had some moderate success.
A Florida jury awarded $7 million in 2007 to a man who had most of his colon removed after suffering from a disease apparently caused by Accutane. The company is appealing that decision.
Isotretinoin is a medication used for the treatment of severe acne. It is sometimes used as a chemotherapy medication for prevention and treatment of certain skin cancers. In some cases, it is used to treat Harlequin type ichthyosis. It is a retinoid, meaning it derives from vitamin A and is found in small quantities naturally in the body.
