Drug company wins first trial over complications linked to diabetes drug Rezulin

Tuesday, December 18th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

HOUSTON (AP) _ The first trial over complications linked to the diabetes drug Rezulin ended Monday with a Houston jury ruling in favor of pharmaceutical company Warner-Lambert.

Norma Culberson, 58, who suffered from Type 2 diabetes, died nearly two years ago after taking the drug. Her family was seeking $25 million in damages from Warner-Lambert, which merged last year with rival drug manufacturer Pfizer Inc.

Rezulin, a drug taken by nearly 2 million people before it was pulled from the market in March 2000, has been linked to 63 deaths from liver failure.

Warner-Lambert, citing Culberson's death certificate, said she died Jan. 7, 2000, one day before her 59th birthday, from renal or kidney failure because of her diabetes. The document lists liver damage as a secondary factor in the death of the woman from the Houston area.