The US Supreme Court decided to intervene in several important business disputes, on Friday, including lawsuits that could be worth billions of dollars to pharmaceutical and tobacco companies.

The court will decide whether to shield drugmakers from many costly patient lawsuits, agreeing to hear Wyeth v Levine, a case that tests whether companies are protected from liability when federal regulators have approved the label on a drug. The Vermont Supreme Court upheld a $6.8m damages award against Wyeth over the use of its anti-nausea drug.