Parker Waichman LLP

Prempro settlements cost Pfizer $896M

women claimed they developed breast cancer. Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Inc. has disclosed that it has paid at least $896 million to settle 6,000 Prempro injury lawsuits filed by or on behalf of women who claimed they developed breast cancer while taking the menopause drug.Bloomberg News reports Pfizer disclosed this fact in a quarterly filing with […]

Prempro

women claimed they developed breast cancer. Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Inc. has disclosed that it has paid at least $896 million to settle 6,000 Prempro injury lawsuits filed by or on behalf of women who claimed they developed breast cancer while taking the menopause drug.Bloomberg News reports Pfizer disclosed this fact in a quarterly filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The total amount of lawsuits settled out of court represents about 60 percent of the 10,000 filed against the company from women blame Prempro for causing cancer. At least 4,000 lawsuits still are unresolved.

Pfizer has indicated that it has set aside another $330 million to settle those lawsuits. The cases are paying an average of $150,000 per person and resolve claims that Pfizer’s Wyeth and Pharmacia & Upjohn divisions failed to warn the public about the risk of cancer posed by its popular menopause drug.

The company is unsure whether the money it has set aside for future litigation

The company is unsure whether the money it has set aside for future litigation will be enough to cover the cost of the settlements or possibly jury awards.

At least 6 million women have taken Prempro as a drug treatment for symptoms of menopause, like hot flashes and unexpected mood swings. Sales boomed to $2 billion a year until the release of a National Institutes of Health study which linked use of Prempro and other similar menopause drugs to cancer.

Prempro is a combination drug, using Premarin and Provera to deliver two hormones, estrogen and progestin. Before it was approved for use in 1995, menopausal women were usually encouraged to take both drugs.

In addition to its risk of causing breast cancer, women taking Prempro have also developed other side effects, including ovarian cancer, gallbladder cancer, lupus, scleroderma, stroke, blood clots, severe asthma, and pulmonary embolisms.

Pfizer has been urged to settle injury lawsuits

Pfizer has been urged to settle injury lawsuits involving women who allege they developed cancer as a result of taking Prempro. Eleven of the 21 lawsuits which had reached a jury have resulted in losses for the company.

Of the 10,000 lawsuits Pfizer once faced involving Prempro injuries, all but 2,000 were filed in a federal court where all cases had been consolidated. The remaining lawsuits were filed in state courts in Pennsylvania, Nevada, and Minnesota, according to the report.

Juries across the country have been inclined to offer larger sums in punitive and other damages to women who successfully argued they developed breast cancer as a result of Prempro and further asserted that the companies behind the drug were guilty of “outrageous conduct” in its marketing and research behind the drug.

An attorney representing some of the victims in the remaining cases to be tried or settled believes these women are entitled to more than the average reached for claims so far.

Need Legal Help Regarding Prempro?

The personal injury attorneys at Parker Waichman LLP offer free, no-obligation case evaluations.
For more information, fill out our online contact form or call 1-800-YOURLAWYER (1-800-968-7529).

What Our Clients Say About Us
We have worked with thousands of clients and we appreciate them and their positive reviews. Here are just a few recent client reviews...
5 Star Reviews 150
when 911 happened i had a very bad experience with my health but now i am better, i decided to contact the law firm of Parker Waichman for assistance, they referred me to Benita Rollins regarding my case, she took charge ,very knowledgeable lady ,helped me with the case ,they are the best law firm to contact regarding any issue with any matter simply the best ever !! especially Benita Rollins, ho has helped me with my issue very Graithful for help from this lady.
Frank Dimeglio
2 years ago
5 Star Reviews 150
I am glad I chose Parker and Waichman to represent me and couldn't be happier to work with Julie and Maryann. They have been extremely helpful in assisting me and helping me throughout the whole process. They have made this uncomfortable situation feel very comfortable from day one and have been calling me with updates and checking up on me to see how I have been doing. Great Job and THANK YOU to them both.
Edgar Rosario
5 years ago
5 Star Reviews 150
Positive: Professionalism PW did a great job representing me. Very professional always available. Benita Rollis did a great job, answering all my questions and returning all my calls. She did an amazing job. thank you
Anthony Lopez
2 years ago

Why Choose Us to Help You?

We Take Care of Everything
Your situation is stressful enough: Let us take on the deadlines, paperwork, investigation, and litigation. We'll handle every detail so you don't have to worry.
No Recovery = No Legal Fees
We work on a contingency-fee basis, meaning that we only get paid from a portion of your settlement or jury award. If you don't get compensation, you owe us nothing.
Decades of Experience
Your situation is stressful enough: Let us take on the deadlines, paperwork, investigation, and litigation. We'll handle every detail so you don't have to worry.
Respected by Our Peers
Judges, insurance adjusters, and fellow attorneys all speak highly of our skills, and we've earned numerous accolades, including a flawless rating from AVVO.
We Have Many Locations To Serve You
We have the experience and the skilled litigators to win your case. Contact us and speak with a real attorney who can help you.
Long Island – Nassau
Parker Waichman LLP
6 Harbor Park Drive
Port Washington, NY 11050
Long Island – Suffolk
Parker Waichman LLP
201 Old Country Road – Suite 145
Melville, NY 11747
New York
Parker Waichman LLP
59 Maiden Lane, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10038
Queens
Parker Waichman LLP
118-35 Queens Boulevard, Suite 400
Forest Hills, NY 11375
Brooklyn
Parker Waichman LLP
300 Cadman Plaza West
One Pierrepont Plaza, 12th Floor
Brooklyn, NY 11201
New Jersey
Parker Waichman LLP
80 Main Street, Suite 265
West Orange, NJ 07052
Florida
Parker Waichman LLP
27299 Riverview Center Boulevard
Suite 108
Bonita Springs, FL 34134
Nationwide Service
Parker Waichman LLP
59 Maiden Lane, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10038