Actor’s acne drug case has implications for Irish litigants

IRISH litigants in legal actions against a pharmaceutical giant are likely to watch with interest an American case over the safety of one of the world’s most popular drugs used in the treatment of severe acne.

A Hollywood actor has launched his own action against the makers of Accutane, which has been linked to a series of side effects including clinical depression and bowel ailments.

James Marshall, who appeared alongside Tom Cruise in A Few Good Men and who starred in a number of other films, is claiming that bowel problems caused by Accutane led to the removal of his colon, thereby harming his career.