‘Willful And Wanton’

A Pfizer Inc. unit concealed the breast-cancer risks of its hormone-replacement therapy drug Prempro...

More than 6 million women have taken hormone-replacement medicines to treat menopause symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats and mood swings.

Until 1995, many patients combined Premarin, Wyeth’s estrogen-based drug, with progestin-laden Provera, made by Upjohn, another Pfizer unit.

The drugs are still on the market. New York-based Pfizer completed its $68 billion purchase of Wyeth Oct. 15.

'Willful And Wanton’

In today’s verdict, jurors concluded Wyeth officials “negligently failed to adequately warn” doctors about Prempro’s cancer risks and that failure played a role in the physician’s decision to prescribe the drug.

The panel also found Wyeth’s conduct in marketing and selling the drug was hiding its health risks was “willful and wanton.” That makes the company open to a punitive damage award under Pennsylvania law.

Wyeth officials haven’t accepted responsibility for mishandling Prempro and should be held accountable for hiding the drug’s risks...

Bloomberg 10/23/09: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601127&sid=aMBoIgCx...