Ind. family claims drug gave mom cancer

RICHMOND, Ind. (WISH) - A Richmond Indiana family is taking Pfizer Pharmaceuticals to court.

The family says the menopause drug, Prempro led to Cheryl Foust developing and then dying from breast cancer in 2005.

Family members described Cheryl as a wonderful mother and wife. They said she was health conscious and athletic. But her life was cut short at age 55. She died from breast cancer.

Family members blame the cancer and Cheryl's death on the hormone replacement drug she had been taking during menopause. That drug was Prempro.

"The last 6 months, she wasn't there anymore. The pain and the cancer had just taken her over," said Steve Foust, Cheryl’s husband.

Wyeth, a division of Pfizer pharmaceuticals has come under fire for the sale of Prempro.

In 2002, the Government Women's Health Initiative determined that hormone replacement increased the risk of breast cancer and heart disease.

Since then thousands of women have sued the drug maker.

On Monday, jury verdicts in Philadelphia awarded two women more than $103 million in punitive damages.

Both women developed breast cancer after taking the drug Prempro. Jurors decided the drug led to the cancer.

They also found drug company Wyeth, which is now owned by Pfizer, willfully hid evidence of a link between Prempro and breast cancer.

Pfizer Pharmaceuticals will challenge both verdicts that came out of Philadelphia.

"Wyeth engaged in a dismiss and distract strategy that was intended to downplay the risk of breast cancer and a strategy to oversell the benefits of the drug," said Indianapolis attorney Greg Laker who will try the Foust case.

Laker, who practices law with Cohen and Malad, estimates between three and four thousand Hoosier women may have developed breast cancer as a result of taking Prempro. He is currently representing 46 clients.

The Foust trial is set to begin January 19, 2010.

"My mom started it and we just want to finish it for her. She wanted people to not have to go through what she went through," said Christine Singleton, Cheryl’s daughter.

To learn more about the Prempro lawsuits and see some of the documents lawyers used in court to persuade jurors, click here.

The Foust trial is set to begin January 19, 2010.

"My mom started it and we just want to finish it for her. She wanted people to not have to go through what she went through," said Christine Singleton, Cheryl’s daughter.

To learn more about the Prempro lawsuits and see some of the documents lawyers used in court to persuade jurors, click here.