Jury Says Rezulin Didn’t Cause Death

A jury in Houston found that the prescription drug Rezulin, made by Pfizer Inc.’s subsidiary Warner-Lambert, did not contribute to the death of a diabetic woman who died in January 2000.

The verdict was the first jury decision in litigation involving thousands of claims against the diabetes drug.

The drug, now withdrawn, has been blamed in 63 liver failure deaths worldwide for the period from 1997 to 2000 during which it was sold.

Separately, Pfizer said it expects annual per-share profit gains of 15% or more in 2003 and 2004, a lower rate of growth than it’s had since buying Warner-Lambert last year.

The world’s largest drug maker said it expects to earn at least $1.30 a share in 2001, excluding some items, and $1.56 to $1.60 a share in 2002--in line with Wall Street estimates.

Shares of Pfizer rose 89 cents to $40.33 on the NYSE.