Court rejects acne drug firm’s bid to halt case

THE Supreme Court has rejected a bid by a pharmaceutical group to stop a father bringing a case against it alleging wrongful death following the suicide of his 20-year-old son.

Liam Grant claims his son, Liam Junior’s, suicide was a side effect of his use, for the treatment of acne, of the drug Roaccutane, manufactured by RP Scherer Ltd company, based in England, and promoted and distributed here by Roche Products (Ireland) Ltd.

Mr Grant, 60, of Wainsfort Manor Drive, Terenure, Dublin, suing on his own behalf and on behalf of other family members, some years ago initiated proceedings against Roche Products (Ireland) Ltd, RP Scherer, a number of other Roche companies, the Irish Medicines Board and a consultant dermatologist who prescribed the drug Roaccutane to Mr Grant’s son.