The House Committee on Energy and Commerce will hold a congressional hearing this week over the safety of Roche Holding AG's Accutane acne medication. The committee, which has scheduled interviews with Roche and U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officials as well as several medical experts, plans to focus on the latest information available on the safety of the drug and the dependability of the pharmaceutical company's risk-management programs.

Accutane has been linked to birth defects and emotional problems, including severe depression. Over 147 Accutane users committed suicide between 1982 and 2000. FDA data indicates the medication is among the top 10 drugs cited for depression and suicide attempts.