Drug maker appeals award in Nevada case: All involve the drugs Premarin, an estrogen replacement, and Prempro, a combination of estrogen and progestin. ... LVRJ 3/8/08

March 10, 2008

From a silent sister:

Mar. 08,

2008 Las Vegas Review-Journal

Drug

maker appeals award in Nevada case

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS RENO -- Pharmaceutical giant Wyeth is appealing an award of

$58 million to three Nevada women who claim that one of its drugs caused their breast cancer. The appeal, filed Wednesday, asks the Nevada

Supreme Court to overturn the Feb. 21 award by Washoe County District Judge

. It is the largest award to date against the

Madison, N.J.-based company, which faces about 5,300 other similar lawsuits

across the country in state and federal courts. All involve the drugs Premarin, an estrogen

replacement, and Prempro, a combination of estrogen and progestin. The drugs

are prescribed to women to ease menopause symptoms. cut the damages award from $134

million to $58 million for the women, citing concerns that "passion and

prejudice" inflated the verdict. While praising the judge's action, Wyeth

spokesman Doug Petkus maintained "it doesn't change the fact that the

verdict was irreparably flawed and fraught with error." The $58 million award went to Jeraldine

Scofield, 74, of Fallon; Arlene Rowatt, 68, of

Incline Village ;

and Pamela Forrester, 65, of Yerington. On Thursday, a federal jury ordered Wyeth

and Upjohn Co. to pay about $27 million to a

Little Rock , Ark. ,

woman who got breast cancer after taking hormone replacement therapy. The

jury ruled that Donna Scroggin, who sued the companies in 2004, should

receive $19.3 million from Wyeth and $7.7 million from Upjohn Co. in punitive

damages. Jurors decidedd Wyeth inadequately warned

Scroggin that Premarin and Prempro carried an increased risk of breast

cancer. The lawsuit also named Upjohn Co., the maker of Provera. The jury had ruled last month that Scroggin

should receive $2.75 million in compensatory damages.

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