Nov 23, 2009 6:00 pm US/Eastern
Wyeth Ordered To Pay Millions In Cancer Case
PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ―
Huge Philadelphia jury verdicts against drug companies: $113 million going to two women who developed breast cancer after taking hormone replacement therapy. They say not only did hormone replacement drugs cause breast cancer, but the drug companies knew about the danger and hid it.
66-year-old Donna Kendall was awarded $34 million. That's what a Philadelphia jury decided Wyeth, now owned by Pfizer, should pay because its drugs caused her cancer.
"I was just thankful the jury was as good as they were," said Kendall. "I don't think much about the money part of it."
Donna Kendall is among millions of women who took hormone replacement drugs like Prempro to reduce the symptoms of menopause, like hot flashes and mood swings.
"The hormone replacement that I took, I thought was good for my bones and good for my heart," said Kendall.
But she ended up with heart disease and breast cancer, a double mastectomy, radiation and chemotherapy.
"It was hard on my family. That's the part that really, really bothered me most," said Kendall.
In 2002, the government Women's Health Initiative determined that hormone replacement increased the risk of breast cancer and heart disease. Since then, thousands of women have sued the drug maker.
In addition to the judgment for Donna Kendall, a second one was announced Monday for $78 million to another woman against Wyeth/Pfizer.
Kendall's attorney, Tobias Millrood, said, "This jury gave a resounding answer that this is reckless conduct to continue to sell these drugs just for the purposes of profits."
A statement from Pfizer Monday said it's disappointed with the verdicts and that Wyeth would appeal. It goes on to say proper and accurate warnings were given to women about the potential drug dangers.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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