Drugmakers Wyeth Pharmaceuticals and Upjohn Company have asked a federal judge to void a $27 million punitive damage award to a woman who developed breast cancer after taking hormone treatments that she claimed caused her illness.

A federal jury in March awarded the sum to Donna Gail Scroggin - $19.3 million from Wyeth and $7.7 million from Provera maker Upjohn. Jurors concluded that Wyeth inadequately warned Scroggin that its drugs Premarin and Prempro carried an increased risk of breast cancer. The jury awarded Scroggin $2.75 million in compensatory damages.

At a hearing Friday, attorneys for the drug companies argued that the jury erred in issuing punitive damages. The lawyers say the companies engaged in no effort to hide information about risks of the drugs.

Scroggin took the hormones for 11 years, then was diagnosed with breast cancer. Now age 66, she had a double mastectomy and is free of cancer.

The judge is to rule later on the appeal.

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press

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