Learned Intermediary Doctrine Defeats Solodyn Hair Loss Action, Fla. Federal Judge Rules

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Florida’s learned intermediary doctrine defeats claims that Medicis Pharmaceuticals Corp. failed to warn doctors and patients that its acne drug Solodyn can cause hair loss, a federal judge has ruled.

On July 14, Judge Sheri S. Chappell of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida found the plaintiff failed to allege the extent of his prescribing doctor’s knowledge of the drug’s risks. In addition, the complaint did not explain how Solodyn was defectively designed, the judge held.

Marco Dimieri ingested Solodyn to treat his acne from 2009 to 2010. He discontinued the …