Accutane Maker Suspends Marketing of Acne Drug

The maker of the acne-fighting drug Accutane said today it is no longer making or distributing the drug because of increasing competition from cheaper generic versions.

Roche Holding AG said the last batches of Accutane were shipped out on June 25, but the drug may still be available in pharmacies. Several generic versions of the drug, called isotretinoin, have been available since 2002, cutting into Roche’s profit margin for the brand-named version.

“As always when you have generics around your market share drops,” Roche spokeswoman Martina Rupp said, according to a Reuters report. “This was an economical decision driven by falling market share.”

Accutane’s market share had fallen to between 4 and 5 percent, officials said. The drug was first approved in 1982.

Generic drug makers Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd and Mylan Inc. said they will continue to sell generic versions of isotretinoin.

Severe Side Effects Noted

Accutane has been associated with a variety of severe side effects in some users.

People taking the drug have reported experiencing depression, aggressive behavior, and suicidal thoughts, as well as gastrointestinal disorders, such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, and cardiovascular complications. Others have suffered from vision problems such as cataracts or nervous system disorders such as seizures. Also, Accutane has been linked to birth defects in children whose mothers took the drug during pregnancy.

As a result of the problems associate with Accutane, physicians prescribing the drug are required to follow a strict risk-management program designed to reduce side effects.

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