Zantac (ranitidine) was used by millions of Americans for treatment of heartburn and acid reflux, before it was removed from the market in late 2019, after it was discovered that the active pharmaceutical ingredient is inherently unstable and produces high levels of the chemical byproduct N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), which is a potent human carcinogen.
Following a Zantac settlement reached last month to resolve what was expected to be the first U.S. trial over cancer caused by the recalled heartburn drug, nationwide focus has shifted to a California state court claim set for trial in November 2023, which may help gauge how juries will respond to certain evidence and testimony that will be repeated throughout thousands of lawsuits brought against the drug makers.
Zantac Lawsuit Trial Averted By Settlement
A trial in a case brought by a different plaintiff had been expected next month, but it was called off after the pill's British drugmaker GSK Plc (GSK.L), the only defendant in the case, settled for an undisclosed amount without admitting liability.
Not all the companies, which have repeatedly denied that Zantac can cause cancer, are named in each lawsuit. Which specific case will go to trial in November has not yet been determined, according to a spokesperson for GSK.
The FDA in 2020 pulled all remaining brand name Zantac and generic versions off the market, triggering a wave of lawsuits.
