Prempro® Caused Woman’s Breast Cancer, Philadelphia Jury Concludes
PHILADELPHIA, PA — February 16, 2007 — Taking the hormone replacement drug Prempro® caused Mary Daniel to develop breast cancer, according to a state jury. Wyeth, the drug’s manufacturer, was ordered to pay $1.0 million in compensatory damages to Mrs. Daniel and $500,000 to her husband.
Ms. Daniel took Prempro® for 16 months before developing breast cancer. Women use Prempro® to reduce “hot flashes” or sweats, sleep problems, mood swings and other problems associated with menopause or postmenopause. The drug combines the hormones estrogen and progesterone.
The jury found that Wyeth failed to adequately warn patients about the link between breast cancer and Prempro®. It also determined that the company’s conduct was “malicious, wanton, willful, or oppressive, or showed reckless indifference.” However, Judge Myrna Field ruled that there was not enough evidence to allow punitive damages in addition to the $1.5 million in compensatory damages. Her decision may be appealed.
Prempro®’s Side Effects
A 15–year federal research program, the Women’s Health Initiative, looked at the effects of diet and hormonal therapy on 161,808 postmenopausal women. Women taking estrogen plus progestin tablets such as Prempro® had increased rates of breast cancer. As a general group, they also suffered from increased risks of heart attack and strokes, although women in their fifties who took only estrogen may have had less calcification of their arteries. Prempro® users over the age of 65 were also more likely to develop memory problems and dementia compared with those who did not take hormone replacement drugs.
The prescribing instructions for Prempro® now include a “black box” warning about heart attacks, strokes and breast cancer. A black box label is the strongest warning that the Food and Drug Administration applies to medications, short of pulling them off the market.
Your Prempro® Case
For further details about hormone replacement therapy drugs, see Menopause and Hormone Therapy and Hormone Replacement Therapy, U.S. Prevention Services Task Force. Please feel free to contact us at Brayton Purcell if you have taken Prempro® and developed breast cancer. We will evaluate your case free of charge and advise you of your legal options.