Philadelphia Jury Awards $1.5 Million to Couple in Prempro Lawsuit
By Keely Hyslop
Published on January 29, 2007
The couple’s lawyer contended that drug maker Wyeth knew for some time about the risk of breast cancer associated with Prempro, but failed to properly warn patients.
The jury concluded that Wyeth acted with malice or reckless disregard. A hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 30, to determine whether Wyeth is liable for punitive damages.
Mary Daniel was awarded $1 million in damages, and her husband Tom was awarded $500,000. The Daniel's lawsuit claimed that Mary Daniel suffered breast cancer as a result of using Prempro, which is prescribed to ease symptoms of menopause.
The federal Women’s Health Initiative study, whose findings were released in July 2002, was the first of several medical studies to suggest that estrogen-progestin pills such as Prempro increased the risk of breast cancer and heart problems.
Mary Daniel began taking Prempro in late 1999 and was diagnosed with breast cancer in July 2001. After she underwent two surgeries and chemotherapy and radiation treatments, her cancer went into permanent remission.
Almost 4,500 lawsuits against Wyeth involving HRT drugs remain to be settled.
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