Zantac Lawsuit 

Zantac (ranitidine) is a popular drug used to treat heartburn, ulcers of the stomach and intestines, and other problems. More than 15 million people have Zantac prescriptions, and many more use over-the-counter ranitidine medications.

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Preliminary testing in 2019 revealed the presence of the carcinogen N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) in Zantac and other ranitidine medications. But an ongoing investigation found that levels of NDMA increase over time within the medication and as temperatures increase. The FDA noted that consumers should stop taking over-the-counter ranitidine medications and that patients with ranitidine prescriptions should speak with their health care provider about other treatment options before stopping.

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In February 2020, multidistrict litigation (MDL) was filed in South Florida court on behalf of people who were diagnosed with cancer after taking Zantac. Fifteen plaintiffs were consolidated into the MDL. More than 100 Zantac lawsuits are pending nationwide.

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What Are My Options?

Zantac's manufacturer, Sonofi, had the obligation to warn users of the drug's possibly harmful side effects, but it waited until after the FDA conducted research on it and advised of it's health risks. 

       Hold Sanofi accountable for marketing a product that contains a cancer-causing chemical      

  There Is No Cost To Take Your Case & You May Be Eligible For Compensation  

Diagnosed With Cancer After Taking Zantac?

You may be entitled to compensation

Zantac Lawsuit Basis Formed

On September 13, 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported the discovery of the carcinogenic contaminant N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) in Zantac (ranitidine), a common heartburn medication available in both prescription and over-the-counter versions.

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In April of 2020, the FDA announced that all Zantac brand heartburn drugs, prescription and over-the-counter, should be immediately pulled from the market because of potential NDMA contamination, a chemical linked to cancer.

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The first Zantac lawsuit was filed in California in 2019. In that lawsuit, the plaintiffs accuse drugmakers Sanofi and Boerhringer Ingelheim of manufacturing, marketing, and selling a product they knew or should have known had been contaminated with an industrial chemical known to cause cancer.

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The exact cause of the NDMA contamination is still under investigation. However, during the period in which Boerhinger Ingelheim and Sanofi manufactured and marketed Zantac, scientific research demonstrated a clear link between ranitidine, the active ingredient in Zantac, and NDMA. Specifically, when ranitidine comes in contact with water, it creates a chemical reaction that causes the formation of NDMA.

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Despite the availability of this information, the drugmakers chose not to disclose this risk to the government or to consumers.

Zantac (ranitidine) Linked To NDMA Formation

Lawsuits argue that as far back as 1981, drugmakers were aware of several studies pointing to the dangers of NDMA formation with Zantac. The studies found that the potential of forming NDMA increases when ranitidine makes contact with nitrite in the body, according to a lawsuit filed by Michael and Deborah Combs.

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The Comb's complaint list other more recent studies that connect ranitidine to NDMA formation. One 2011 study by Ruquao Shen and Susan A. Andrews observed that ranitidine could form NDMA when exposed to drinking water disinfected with Chlorine.

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Another cited study from 2016 by Teng Zend and William A. Mitch found evidence suggesting ranitidine could form NDMA  when combined with nitrite in "stomach relevant pH conditions." They also found NDMA excreted in the urine over a 24-hour period after taking ranitidine "increased 400-folds from 110 to 47 600ng, while totla N-nitrosamines increased 5-folds."

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Despite this information, lawsuits say drugmakers failed to warn the public.

Law Without Justice

Is A Wound Without A Cure