Pfizer units must pay $6.3m in Prempro case

Two Pfizer Inc units’ hormone- replacement therapy drugs Prempro and Provera caused an Illinois woman’s breast cancer and are liable for at least $6.3 million in damages, a Philadelphia jury ruled today. Jurors deliberated about five hours before finding that the combination of Wyeth’s Prempro and Pharmacia & Upjohn’s Provera menopause drugs was a substantial contributing factor in Donna Kendall’s breast cancer. Kendall had a double mastectomy in 2002 after taking the hormone-replacement drugs for 11 years. The panel will hear evidence Nov 23 on whether Wyeth and Upjohn should pay punitive damages over their handling of the drugs. Wyeth has lost six of nine jury verdicts, including the last four in a row, over the drugs since 2006.