Jury Orders Payment From Wyeth, Upjohn of over $27 Million

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Wyeth and Upjohn Co. were ordered to pay more than $27 million in punitive damages to an Arkansas woman after a federal jury concluded she developed breast cancer from taking the firms' hormone-replacement therapies.

The jury last week awarded $2.7 million in compensatory damages after finding the firms hadn't adequately warned Donna Scroggin that the drugs carried an increased risk of breast cancer. Yesterday, it said Wyeth should pay $19.4 million and Upjohn, a Pfizer Inc. unit, should pay $7.8 million.

A Wyeth spokesman said the firm will explore post-trial options, appealing if necessary. Pfizer's associate general counsel said the firm complied with all labeling requirements.

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