Zantac, ranitidine users with cancer may qualify to file a lawsuit against drugmakers or pharmacies
The heartburn drug Zantac and its generic equivalent, ranitidine, were recalled by the FDA in 2020 after studies showed that patients who used these medications were more likely to be diagnosed with cancer. Researchers found that Zantac and ranitidine users face an increased risk of developing cancer because they were contaminated with a carcinogenic chemical called NDMA.
Following the FDA’s Zantac recall, hundreds of patients who used the brand name or generic versions of these medications have filed lawsuits against their manufacturers and pharmacies where the drug was sold. If you or a loved one used Zantac or ranitidine and were diagnosed with cancer, you may qualify to file a lawsuit and receive compensation for your illness and medical expenses.
Zantac and Ranitidine Recalled Over Cancer Dangers
In 2019, the online pharmacy Valisure uncovered evidence that the acid reflux drugs Zantac and ranitidine were contaminated with high levels of a chemical known as N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA). Exposure to NDMA has been linked to an increased risk of gastric cancer, stomach cancer, and colorectal cancer. Studies have also indicated that NDMA may cause bladder cancer and pancreatic cancer.
After tests revealed that the contamination of Zantac and ranitidine with NDMA was widespread, many nationwide pharmacy chains began pulling these heartburn drugs from stores. Manufacturers of the two medications also stopped selling and distributing Zantac and ranitidine because of their potential cancer link.
When tests ordered by the Food and Drug Administration confirmed the widespread contamination of Zantac and ranitidine with NDMA, the agency ordered manufacturers and distributors to recall the drugs from sale in April 2020. The FDA also advised patients who still had packages or prescriptions for Zantac or ranitidine in their homes to stop using the drugs because of the possibility they could be diagnosed with cancer.
In the wake of its decision to recall Zantac and ranitidine, the FDA issued new safety guidelines regarding NDMA. The new regulations will be designed to help prevent other prescription and over-the-counter drugs from becoming contaminated with NDMA and putting patients at risk of developing cancer.
At the same time, the US Department of Justice announced that it was launching a criminal probe involving the drugmakers Sanofi and GlaxoSmithKline, which manufactured Zantac and ranitidine. The criminal probe was intended to determine whether these two drug companies committed fraud by failing to disclose evidence that Zantac and ranitidine could be linked to an increased cancer risk.
Zantac, Ranitidine Lawsuits Filed by Patients with Cancer
Following the FDA’s Zantac and ranitidine recalls, hundreds of patients filed lawsuits against drug manufacturers, pharmacies, and other companies involved in the manufacturing and sale of these heartburn medications. Many of the patients who filed lawsuits against these drugmakers and pharmacies had been diagnosed with gastric cancer, stomach cancer, colorectal cancer, or other types of cancer that have been linked to Zantac and ranitidine.
These hundreds of lawsuits alleged that the manufacturers of Zantac and ranitidine knew for decades before the FDA recall that the two drugs could cause cancer. Yet despite evidence that patients who used the two medications could face an increased cancer risk, these drug companies failed to alert doctors and patients about the potential dangers of Zantac and ranitidine.
The hundreds of lawsuits that have been filed so far on behalf of Zantac and ranitidine users may only be the tip of the iceberg. Because millions of patients used these two heartburn drugs for decades, legal experts have predicted that thousands of lawsuits involving ranitidine and Zantac may eventually be filed against the manufacturers of these drugs.
Free Consultation for Zantac, Ranitidine Users With Cancer
If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with gastric cancer, stomach cancer, colorectal cancer, or other types of cancer after using Zantac or ranitidine, you may be eligible to file a lawsuit against the drug’s manufacturers or the pharmacy where you purchased the medication. The first step in filing a lawsuit is to speak with an experienced pharmaceutical liability attorney who can answers your questions about the Zantac litigation and find out more about whether you qualify to file a claim.
For more information about the hundreds of Zantac and ranitidine lawsuits that have been filed so far and whether you may be eligible to take legal action, contact the law firm of Hissey, Mulderig & Friend to schedule your free legal consultation with one of our lawyers. You can reach us by calling toll-free at 1-866-806-8117, or by filling out the free case evaluation form to the right for desktop users and below on mobile devices and tablets.
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