Rezulin Jury Rules for Pfizer Unit

A Maryland jury on Tuesday found Warner-Lambert, which had supplied the prescription diabetes drug Rezulin before being bought by drug maker Pfizer Inc., not guilty in the death of Monica George, Pfizer said.

Pfizer, which bought Warner-Lambert in June 2000, said it was pleased with the court’s decision and will defend all remaining Rezulin suits. The case was heard in the Montgomery County Circuit Court in Rockville, Md.

Pfizer had said Jan. 20 that it would appeal a Texas jury’s verdict in another Warner-Lambert suit. The Texas jury awarded the plaintiffs $23.46 million in compensatory damages in the death of Beatrice Herrera.

Rezulin, which was used to treat Type II, or adult-onset, diabetes, has been blamed in dozens of deaths from liver failure and thousands of other liver damage cases from 1997 to 2000.