Pennsylvania Jury Awards Three Women $72M Over Prempro

A Philadelphia, Pa., jury has awarded three women $72.6 million in compensatory damages over their use of the hormone therapy drug Prempro and more could be coming when punitive damages are determined.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports the Common Pleas Court jury on Tuesday ordered pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Inc. to pay out the damages over the plaintiffs’ claims the menopause drug gave them breast cancer. The jury could take two weeks to determine punitive damages.

The three women who sued over the drug live or lived in Pennsylvania. Wyeth Pharmaceuticals was hit with dozens of lawsuits after a study found Prempro users had a much higher incidence of breast cancer.

Pfizer bought Wyeth in 2009. A spokesman tells The Inquirer the company will examine its options after the verdict is final.