San Antonio Express-News
October 22, 2002
Menopause drug triggers Texans' suit
Wrongful death claimed in action
Author: Manny Gonzales; EXPRESS-NEWS STAFF WRITER
Edition: metro
Section: Metro / South Texas
Page: 2B
Index Terms:
News - National
Estimated printed pages: 1
Article Text:
A Texas family last week filed a $30 million wrongful death lawsuit in Bexar County district court, claiming that a popular menopause drug, Prempro, caused a Waco woman's breast cancer.
The suit claims that Barbara House died two years ago from breast cancer caused by taking Prempro, a hormone replacement therapy medication.
The suit names Pennsylvania-based Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, a division of Wyeth Corp. of Madison, N.J., and the maker of Prempro. It also names San Antonio-based H.E. Butt Grocery Co., because one of its grocery stores sold the prescription to the woman, said one of the family's Houston attorneys.
"The family filed this suit to get justice for Barbara House," attorney Chetna Koshy said.
The suit claims Wyeth knew its drug might lead to increased chances of breast cancer. It also claims that Wyeth did not conduct adequate testing of the product's safety, and that the defendants had actual knowledge of their misrepresentations, but kept them covered up.
The suit cites a 12-year study released last July by the Women's Health Initiative. It found that hormone replacement therapy resulted in a significant rise in breast cancer, strokes, heart attacks and blood clots in women.
House was not warned that Prempro had been linked to "potentially fatal strokes, heart attacks, blood clots, cardiovascular disease and breast cancer," the suit charges. Prempro and H.E. Butt officials reached Monday afternoon said they had not seen the suit and reserved comment.
The suit also names as defendants Lynn's Lavega Pharmacy, pharmaceutical sales representative Kathy Husak and the physicians who treated House.
mrgonzales@express-news.net
Copyright 2002 San Antonio Express-News
Record Number: 634786