If you Took Brand-Name Zantac or Generic Zantac (Ranitidine) and Were Diagnosed With Cancer, you Might Be Eligible to Collect Compensation. Call our Lawyers at Alonso Krangle, LLP, for a Zantac Cancer Lawsuit Evaluation.
There have been numerous reports about the presence of a dangerous carcinogen in Zantac and its generic relative Ranitidine. It can be hard to keep up with news about recalls and lawsuits, especially if you are undergoing cancer treatment.
Zantac has long been a prescription and over-the-counter medication that has helped millions of people nationwide combat ailments such as heartburn and the painful symptoms of stomach ulcers. Reports that Zantac is contaminated with the cancer-causing chemical NDMA (n-nitrosodimethylamine has patients, pharmacies, and drug companies thinking twice about its safety.
Zantac-related cancers can include bladder cancer, colon cancer, kidney cancer, pancreatic cancer, and stomach cancer. If you took Zantac and were diagnosed with one of these cancers, you may be eligible to file a lawsuit to collect compensation.
Call our Zantac lawyers at 800-403-6191 for a free case evaluation.
What Is Zantac?
Zantac is the brand name of a drug called ranitidine, which is the active ingredient in Zantac. Both belong to a family of medications called H2 blockers and are used to treat a wide variety of gastrointestinal diseases and control their symptoms. Over the counter (OTC), Zantac is usually used to prevent or treat heartburn and acid reflux. Prescription-strength Zantac treats stomach ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), erosive esophagitis, and other serious diseases.
Various companies sell and produce Ranitidine. Zantac, however, remains the most popular brand. Zantac’s popularity was nearly instant when it was first sold in the United States more than 30 years ago. It was the first drug in the US to generate $1 billion in sales and did so just three years after its introduction to our marketplace. Reports say that in 2018, the sale of OTC Zantac alone totaled over $125 million.
What is NDMA?
NDMA is recognized as a potent carcinogen and has been linked to a variety of severe illnesses since the 1970s. NDMA is an environmental contaminant, a chemical byproduct that exists in our food supply, water supply, and in some of our medications.
In 2018, it became evident that large amounts of the popular blood pressure drug Valsartan were contaminated with high levels of NDMA. The discovery led to a widespread safety recall, which prompted concern about the safety of other medications and the presence of the known carcinogen NDMA.
After the Valsartan recall, the drug-testing lab Valisure conducted tests on various heartburn drugs to test for the presence of NDMA. Valisure’s tests revealed high, dangerous levels of NDMA in Zantac and Ranitidine. Valisure found that one tablet of Zantac had 26,000 times the acceptable daily limit of NDMA.
After reporting its findings to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the FDA issued a public safety warning. In September 2019, the FDA said that Zantac and Ranitidine contained unacceptable levels of NDMA.
FDA Warning Prompted Voluntary Recalls
Since the warning, Sanofi, the manufacturer of brand-name Zantac has not recalled the drugs. Many pharmacies, however, including CVS and Walgreens, have stopped selling Zantac and generic alternatives. Some manufacturers of generic Zantac have issued recalls.
What are The Important Issues in Zantac Cancer Lawsuits?
The Zantac lawsuits are about people who developed cancer because they unknowingly ingested a known carcinogen for years. Issues in Zantac lawsuits will revolve around some of these questions:
- Did the drug companies know about the unsafe levels of NDMA?
- Should drug manufacturers have known about the presence of NDMA?
- Did the drug maker hide the fact that Zantac could cause cancer?
- Should Zantac patients have received a warning that taking it could cause cancer?
The drug companies, manufacturers, and distributors may face massive liability and thousands of claims from people who developed cancer after taking Zantac.
The plaintiffs in Zantac lawsuits will likely be people who regularly used Zantac and were diagnosed with cancer that is related to NDMA ingestion. NDMA ingestion can be linked to the following diseases:
- Kidney cancer
- Bladder cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
- Stomach cancer
- Colon cancer
Recent examples of Zantac lawsuits filed are Blake v. Boehringer Ingelheim and Kerzer v. Sanofi-Aventis. In Blake v. Boehringer Ingelheim, the plaintiff took Zantac several times a week for over 20 years. When he was eventually diagnosed with bladder cancer, he claims it was because of the continuous ingestion of NDMA found in Zantac. In the case against Sanofi-Aventis, the plaintiff used Zantac several times a week for over 30 years.
The plaintiff claims that his kidney cancer was also the result of the continuous ingestion of NDMA-contaminated Zantac.
Contact Our Zantac Lawsuit Lawyers to Discuss Whether You Have a Case
If you think you developed cancer because of taking Zantac, call our lawyers today at Alonso Krangle, LLP for a free case evaluation. We can help you collect any compensation the law allows for your Zantac cancer. Call our Zantac lawyers at 800-403-6191.