Perry said the matter was brought to his attention by a bailiff, who overheard discussion in the jury room.
"If we don't correct it now, we'll be trying this case again," the judge said.
After deliberating for about three hours, jurors on Friday awarded $35 million to three Nevada women for past and future medical expenses, as well as physical and emotional pain and suffering.
The women claimed the company's hormone replacement drugs caused their breast cancer.
Jurors will return Monday to consider awarding punitive damages.
Perry twice denied a motion by Wyeth lawyer Dan Webb to declare a mistrial over the jury's confusion.
Webb argued that jurors were predisposed to punish the company before the punitive phase of the trial had begun.
The judge said jurors raised questions expressing their confusion during the initial deliberations, but Wyeth lawyers wouldn't allow an explanation.
The panel deliberated for two days earlier this week before reaching its initial verdict.
The judgment remains the largest award to date against the Madison, N.J.-based company, which faces about 5,300 similar lawsuits across the country in state and federal courts.
All involve the drugs Premarin, an estrogen replacement, and Prempro, a combination of estrogen and progestin. The drugs are prescribed to women to ease symptoms of menopause.
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Under the revised judgment, jurors awarded $10.5 million to Jeraldine Scofield, 74, of Fallon; $12 million to Arlene Rowatt, 67, of Incline Village; and $12.5 million to Pamela Forrester, 65, of Yerington.
During the trial, Wyeth lawyers argued that the drugs were safe and approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. They also said information about possible risks is included with every prescription and provided to the women's doctors.
They argued that the women had other risk factors, making it impossible to link their cancer to the hormone replacement drugs.
The drug company reached an undisclosed settlement last October with a fourth Nevada woman who had been part of the lawsuit.
Carol McCreary of Reno was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2001 after taking Prempro for about three years. Her case was settled just days before her trial was to begin.
McCreary, 59, died in April.
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On the Net:
Wyeth: http://www.wyeth.com/
[Associated Press; by Sandra
Chereb]
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This
material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or
redistributed.
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