Legal experts predict thousands of Zantac, ranitidine cancer lawsuits
Hundreds of lawsuits have been filed so far by patients who were diagnosed with cancer after using the heartburn drugs Zantac or ranitidine. Both of these drugs were recalled in 2019 after studies linked them to an increased cancer risk. Dspite of the high number of ranitidine and Zantac lawsuits filed so far, legal experts predict that manufacturers may be facing thousands of additional lawsuits as more patients who used these drugs are diagnosed with cancer.
Zantac, Ranitidine Recalled Over Cancer Risk
In the Fall of 2019, researchers found that Zantac and ranitidine were contaminated with “extremely high levels” of a chemical known as NDMA (N-Nitrosodimethylamine). According to the World Health Organization (WHO) exposure to NDMA is linked in an increased risk of developing cancer.
Initially, it was unknown whether only some lots of Zantac and ranitidine were contaminated with NDMA, or whether this contamination was widespread across different manufacturers. After additional testing revealed that the contamination of Zantac and ranitidine was occurring in lots of the drug that were manufactured by different companies and sold by different pharmacies, drugmakers and national pharmacy chains began withdrawing Zantac and ranitidine from sale.
Following several months in which Zantac and ranitidine were being recalled by individual manufacturers and pharmacies, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ordered all Zantac and ranitidine products to be recalled in April 2020. At the time that the agency announced the recall, the FDA said that tests had revealed that NDMA formed in the two heartburn drugs over time when they were stored above room temperature, meaning that the contamination of these medications was widespread.
Legal Experts Predict Thousands of Ranitidine, Zantac Lawsuits
In the wake of the FDA’s ranitidine and Zantac recall, hundreds of patients who used these drugs and were diagnosed with cancer have filed lawsuits against the manufacturers of these drugs. In addition to these individual lawsuits, several class action lawsuits involving Zantac and ranitidine have also been filed.
Because Zantac and ranitidine were widely used by patients in the U.S. to treat heartburn, acid reflux, and other conditions caused by too much stomach acid, millions of patients may have been exposed to NDMA while they were being treated with these medications. For this reason, legal experts are predicting that thousands of additional lawsuits may be filed by patients who are diagnosed with cancer after taking Zantac or ranitidine in the coming years.
Many of the hundreds of current Zantac and ranitidine lawsuits were filed against the drug companies that manufactured and sold these medications, including GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Apotex, Sandoz, and Novartis. These lawsuits have alleged that drugmakers knew or should have known about the increased cancer risk associated with Zantac and ranitidine, but failed to properly warn patients about the cancerous side effects that they faced from using these medications.
Free Legal Consultation for Zantac & Ranitidine Users
Tests performed by the WHO have linked NDMA to an increased risk of gastric cancer, stomach cancer, and colorectal cancer. In addition, there is evidence to suggest that exposure to NDMA can also cause liver cancer and lung cancer.
If you or a loved one were treated with Zantac or ranitidine and have been diagnosed with cancer, you may qualify to file a lawsuit and receive compensation for this illness.
For more information about filing a Zantac or ranitidine lawsuit and to find out whether you are eligible to file a case, contact the lawyers at Hissey, Mulderig & Friend to schedule your free legal consultation. You can reach us by calling toll-free at 1-866-806-8117, or by answering a few questions about your case in our free case evaluation form, located on the right side of this page.
After we receive your information, a member of our staff will contact you for more information and to schedule your free consultation with one of our attorneys.