Zantac has an active lawsuit. The Zantac lawsuit allows patients using Zantac as a prescription to file for compensation if they developed cancer with its prolonged use.
It is alleged that Zantac (ranitidine) contains a cancer-causing chemical N-nitroso dimethylamine (NDMA). Zantac is a popular antacid medicine usually taken for curing gastrointestinal problems, heartburn, acidity, and acid reflux.
It has been in the market since the 1980s and usually doesn’t require a prescription to purchase. It comes in dosages of 75mg, 150mg, and even 300mg.
FDA’s Involvement
On April 1, 2020, U.S. Food and Drug Administration requested the drug to be withdrawn from the market holistically. It ordered the doctors to remove it from the prescription and banned its sale over the counter. This was done after new FDA tests showed the possible risk to human health.
They also found that the drug contains an ‘unacceptable amount’ of NDMA. As a result, already a dozen companies have recalled the drug.
Allegations On Zantac
As per Zantac lawsuit allegations, Zantac marketers, Sanofi, knew of its dangerous side effects and failed to warn the public rightly. After the ranitidine was withdrawn from the market, Sanofi came up with another similar drug called Zantac 360 that includes famotidine. This drug doesn’t form part of Zantac lawsuits.
The drug is also alleged to have a defective design. The ranitidine molecules were found to be inherently unstable as per Valisure, online pharmacy. No matter the manufacturer of Zantac, it is by nature considered carcinogenic.
The medication also failed to have proper warning labels. Even in its warning label, it mentioned nothing that warns medical practitioners of its risks.
Types Of Cancer Associated With Zantac
People who have developed cancer after taking Zantac have no family history of cancer. The doctors also mentioned that the cancer is caused due to some external cause like exposure to NDMA or similar chemical toxin.
The types of cancers that are associated with Zantac lawsuits include:
- Stomach cancer
- Bladder cancer
- Breast cancer
- Colon cancer
- Liver cancer
- Kidney related cancer
- Ovarian cancer
Class Action Or Individual Lawsuits?
Zantac lawsuits haven’t been turned into a class action lawsuit yet. However, all the individual lawsuits have been turned into multidistrict litigation (MDL), which are similar to class action lawsuits.
In MDL, all individual cases are treated differently but are heard by a single court judge to reach a unified outcome.
However, there are class-action lawsuits filed against Sanofi and Boehringer Ingelheim. The first-class action was filed in the year 2019, September 13. After that, on January 22, 2020, another class action was filed by 13 plaintiffs in the Southern District of Ohio federal court.
Who Qualifies For Filing Zantac Lawsuits?
You can file a Zantac lawsuit if your quality the below three conditions:
- Prove that the victim took Zantac medication by showing medical reports, receipts or doctor’s notes.
- The victim should be diagnosed with the types of cancers associated with Zantac
- There should be a proper connection and period between the cancer diagnosis and Zantac intake. The doctors suggest that the victim should have developed cancer after one year of taking the prolonged doses of medication.
Current Status Of Zantac Lawsuits
The Zantac lawsuits are currently under trial. No settlement amount is finalized or granted till now.
It is still at its initial stages and was supposed to be completed by December 2021. In the trial batches that were carried out in August and September 2020, Judge Rosenberg issued rules to lawyers regarding testimonials from plaintiffs. There are 2924 Zantac lawsuits under the MDL in the Southern District of Florida. The lawsuits are heard under U.S. District Judge Robin L. Rosenberg.
There are usually two ways of settling MDL trials:
Global Settlements
Under global settlements, the company accused agrees to pay a combined sum of money to cover all claims. The money is divided amongst the plaintiffs equally.
Inventory Settlements
A minimum settlement amount is fixed that is to be given to the plaintiff. If their attorney manages to win more than the fixed amount, the bonus amount is distributed amongst clients using a fixed percentage.
There are over 20 companies that manufacturer prescription and over-the-counter Zantac. Some of the companies have recalled the drug. Not all manufacturers are defendants in the Zantac lawsuits.
The current defendants include:
- Sanofi U.S. Services Inc.
- Sanofi-Aventis US LLC
- GlaxoSmithKline LLC
- Pfizer Inc
- Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc
Contact Us Today
As you can see, Zantac lawsuits are gaining popularity as more cases keep springing up. If you or someone you know has developed cancer due to the consumption of Zantac, we encourage you to file a lawsuit to claim compensation. Talk with our attorneys to learn more.
