Zantac®, an over-the-counter drug used by millions of people, has been found to contain a cancer-causing chemical known as N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA). As a result, Zantac® and generic forms of the drug are being recalled from stores all over the world.
Who is responsible? Investigations are now revealing that big-name pharmaceutical companies already knew about the link between Zantac® and cancer and covered up the risk for years.
These actions should not go without consequences. When companies put profits ahead of the safety of millions of people, they are held accountable for their negligence. If you were diagnosed with cancer after taking Zantac®, you may be entitled to financial compensation.
There are ongoing lawsuits for those who meet the following criteria:
- You have taken Zantac®, Zantac® over the counter (OTC), or generic ranitidine,
- Your cancer diagnosis was at least three months after taking the medication, and;
- You were diagnosed with bladder, kidney, liver, pancreatic, stomach, esophageal, or another type of cancer.
If you meet the criteria above, please contact the legal team at Hughes & Coleman. We are investigating cases for individuals who have taken Zantac® or generic ranitidine and developed cancer.
Get your case started today with a free case evaluation. You’ll pay nothing out of pocket, because we don’t receive payment until we recover for you.
The Zantac® Controversy
Ranitidine is in a class of medicines known as H2 (Histamine-2 blockers), which decreases the amount of acid in the stomach. The most popular brand of this drug is Zantac®.
Zantac® has been on the market for over three decades and is now widely used. The drug was first approved by the FDA in 1983, and its popularity skyrocketed. By 1986, it became one of the first drugs to reach over $1 billion in sales.
Zantac® became available OTC in 1996, and generic forms of the drug came onto the market in the next year. This didn’t hinder Zantac®’s popularity—by 2018 it was still one of the top 10 antacid tablets in the country.
Currently, Zantac® is available OTC and by prescription. It is used to treat gastrointestinal issues including:
- Indigestion
- Heartburn
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease
- Peptic ulcer disease
- Zollison-Ellinger syndrome
Patients around the world have looked to Zantac® in hope. Unfortunately, Zantac® and generic versions of ranitidine have been found to contain high levels of NDMA, a known carcinogen.
Why is Zantac® dangerous?
NDMA is a chemical that can be unintentionally produced by means of industrial processes. For example, it was found to form as a byproduct in the chlorination of wastewater and drinking water.
At one time, NDMA was used to make rocket fuel, However, due to the known dangers, it was no longer used for this purpose once it was discovered that the water, air, and soil near the rocket fuel plants were being contaminated.
Meanwhile, research done by the World Health Organization and others has shown a link between NDMA and cancer.
Recent discoveries indicate that NDMA is also a natural byproduct of the ingredients used to produce Zantac®. Studies show that Zantac® has an inherent molecular structure that reacts with itself and produces NDMA when exposed to heat, as can happen during transport. A similar chemical reaction can also form NDMA inside the body after taking the medication.
What Valisure discovered about Zantac®
It was not the FDA that first sounded the alert about the potential health dangers of Zantac®; it was a group of scientists working for a pharmacy called Valisure.
Pharmacies typically buy drugs from wholesalers and then take a cut of the profit after selling. Valisure is no exception. However, this pharmacy also takes the time and effort to test the medicine it distributes.
The people at Valisure first became aware of the dangers of Zantac® when they added a carcinogen test to their panel. It was then that they saw the presence of NDMA in the ranitidine molecule. You can imagine the shock to one of the founders of Vailisure, Adam Clark-Joseph, whose daughter had been taking Zantac® for her acid reflux.
Valisure put a stop to selling ranitidine products and held off on seeking a refund for the ranitidine it had already purchased. After further extensive tests on Zantac® and other drugs containing ranitidine, Valisure brought their findings to the FDA and filed an official citizen petition by September to have Zantac® pulled from the market.
How long manufacturers have known about NDMA in Zantac®
While Valisure was the first to alert the public of NDMA in Zantac® and generic ranitidine, it is now becoming evident that drug manufacturers either have known or should have known about the risks for years.
As far back as 1983, research done by scientists revealed that orally-administered ranitidine may react with nitrates in the body and create NDMA. Years later, a study revealed a link between NDMA and liver tumors in rats.
A more recent study by Stanford researchers was published in a Carcinogenesis issue. The study was conducted on 5 males and 5 females, all in good health. The researchers analyzed the presence of NDMA in their urine before and after taking a 150 mg tablet of Zantac®.
The findings show that NDMA levels in the subjects spiked by a factor of 400 after taking Zantac®. Due to the metabolism process within the body, though, this may be a low estimate of the actual systemic NDMA exposure from Zantac®.
The link between NDMA and cancer may have been known for many years, but the producers of Zantac® and generic ranitidine failed to sufficiently research the risk and warn users. It’s time that these big pharmaceutical companies were held responsible for their negligence.
The FDA’s actions
The FDA has allowed Zantac® and generic ranitidine to be on the market for nearly 35 years. After all that time, the FDA has been accused of putting the financial interests of big-name pharmaceutical companies ahead of the welfare of the people whose job it is to protect.
It is the responsibility of the FDA to protect the public’s health by ensuring the safety of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines, and medical devices. Food, cosmetics, and dietary supplements across the United States also fall under their care. Nevertheless, instead of sounding the alert about the health risks of Zantac®, the FDA allegedly continues to downplay the dangers.
The FDA has stated that it is continuing to investigate the presence of NDMA in ranitidine. In the meantime, the agency has set a permissible daily intake of NDMA at 96 ng (nanograms) and advised companies to recall ranitidine if tests indicate NDMA levels above this amount.
However, it has been reported that dangerously high levels of NDMA have been found in Zantac® and generic versions of ranitidine, anywhere from 3,000 to 26,000 times higher than FDA-approved standards. This has led to many big-name drug store chains, including CVS, Walmart, and Walgreens, pulling both Zantac® and generic versions of ranitidine off their shelves.
If you or a loved one is taking Zantac®, your first step should be to consult your doctor. Since the dangers of Zantac® and other ranitidine medications have become known, doctors are now advising patients to switch to alternative medications for their acid reflux and other digestive ailments. Your doctor may make the same recommendation.
You should also consult a lawyer as soon as possible to see if you could receive compensation. Hughes & Coleman is available 24/7 to answer your questions.
Legal Actions Against Sanofi and Boehringer
The Zantac® brand has been owned by a number of different pharmaceutical companies over the last 30 years. Sanofi has manufactured and distributed the drug since January 2017. Previously, the drug was manufactured and distributed by Boehringer from October 2006 to January 2017.
During the time that these pharmaceutical companies owned Zantac®, there was evidence of the dangers of ranitidine. Evidence indicates that Sanofi and Boehringer chose to ignore the facts presented to them and continued to put profits ahead of the public’s safety. It seems that they in no way tried to warn the public of the possible dangers of the drug by placing a warning label on the product or otherwise.
If Sanofi or Boehringer had alerted the people of the dangers of Zantac®, most patients would have stopped taking it much sooner, which of course would have been financially devastating to the companies. If the allegations are true, this wouldn’t be the first time that a company’s greed has put the health of adults and even young children in danger.
With their negligence brought out into the open, these companies are now being forced to answer for their heartless actions. Class-action suits have been filed against them for knowingly manufacturing and distributing a harmful drug.
Why Choose Hughes & Coleman for Your Zantac® Lawsuit
In order to take on powerful pharmaceutical companies like Sanofi and Boehringer, you need lawyers with extensive resources, knowledge, and experience.
The legal team at Hughes & Coleman knows how to handle drug injury cases. Our skilled lawyers have extensive legal experience at both state and district levels.
What we can do for you after taking on your Zantac® case includes:
- Performing a thorough investigation of how Zantac® has affected you and your family medically and financially
- Speaking to pharmacology (and other) experts who will help us determine who is responsible for your injuries and who needs to be held liable
- Gathering evidence to support your case such as medical records
- Fighting to get you top compensation for your losses
Hughes & Coleman has worked cases involving opioids, defective medical devices, cancer-causing chemicals, and various dangerous drugs for years. We have helped many clients win maximum compensation, and we can help you too.
As part of a Zantac® cancer lawsuit, you may be due compensation for:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Disability
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of life
- Punitive damages
When to Contact a Lawyer About Zantac®
Don’t delay in contacting a lawyer about your Zantac® case. If you miss the statute of limitations deadline, you may miss out on the opportunity to receive financial compensation.
We believe that the manufacturers and distributors of Zantac® were aware of its dangers and covered up the truth for years. They put profits above people and should be held accountable for the incurred damage. Thousands—if not millions—of people have taken Zantac® over the years, trusting that the FDA had done its job and believing that they were taking a safe drug.
If you or a family member has taken Zantac® or a generic form of ranitidine, then we want to help you receive financial compensation. You will pay absolutely no out-of-pocket expenses when we take your case.
Contact the Zantac® cancer lawyers at Hughes & Coleman today to determine if you are eligible for a Zantac® lawsuit or settlement.
