The law firm of Barbour County native Jere Beasley is representing an Alabama resident who is suing New Jersey-based Wyeth Pharmaceuticals and Alabama-based Qualitest for allegedly causing physical injury, including breast cancer.

The lawsuit was filed in the Circuit Court of Bullock County.

According to Beasley, who represents Barbara D. Graham, his client was prescribed and used hormone therapy drugs Premarin, Prempro and Medroxyprogesterone (MPA). Wyeth and Qualitest, their managers and sales representatives “encouraged the use of these drugs to improper customers and misrepresented their products as to their safety, efficacy, and harmful side effects” to increase sales.

“There was a motive for improper long-term usage and dangerous high dosage,” Beasley said. “This is yet another case of profits over public safety and duping doctors as well as consumers. Consequently, there area a tremendous number of women who have had breast cancer.”

The lawsuit details that Wyeth has promoted and marketed its menopausal hormone therapy products since 1942, emphasizing long-term use of these medications. Through an expensive and expansive decades-long marketing and advertising campaign, Wyeth convinced doctors and the public that menopause is a disease requiring drug treatment rather than the natural process of aging.

“Wyeth and Qualitest knew of the significant risks associated with menopausal hormone therapy, but failed to warn consumers of such risks,” Beasley added. “These risks include breast cancer, ovarian cancer, heart attacks, strokes, deep vein thromoboembolisms, pulmonary embolisms, gallbladder cancer and non Hodgkin lymphoma, among other side effects.”

This is the first case of this sort filed in Alabama. Most of the cases thus far have been in the home place of the drug company.

“We look forward to trying this case in Alabama,” Beasley said.

Those wanting a copy of the complaint can contact Shanna Malone at 800-898-2034, Brian Levitt at 732-901-1366 or blevitt3@optonline.net.