11th Cir. Upholds Grant of Summary Judgment for Roche in Bactrim Injury Case

ATLANTA — A federal appeals court has affirmed a grant of summary judgment to Roche Laboratories Inc. on claims accusing it of failing to warn doctors and patients that its antibiotic Bactrim can cause Stevens-Johnson Syndrome.

In a May 29 unpublished opinion, the 11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals found undisputed evidence establishing that the prescribing doctor knew of the plaintiff’s penicillin sensitivity and the risks of cross-reactivity between Bactrim and Rocephin, yet chose to prescribe the drug anyway.

Dawn Brown was prescribed Bactrim on April 20, 2004, to treat a sinus infection. She returned to her primary care clinic …