In September 2019, the online pharmacy, Valisure, discovered the human carcinogen, N-Nitrosodimethylamine, or NDMA, in routine independent testing of Zantac and its generic counterpart, ranitidine. Upon reporting their findings to the Food and Drug Administration, several retailers pulled the drug and its generic equivalent off their shelves. On April 1, 2020, the FDA completed their investigation, stating that the drug and its generic formula were public health risks. Consequently, all prescription and over-the-counter Zantac and ranitidine drugs were immediately removed from the marketplace.

History of Zantac

The pharmaceutical company, GlaxoSmithKline, invented and first sold Zantac by prescription in the United States to consumers in 1983. It was classified as a histamine H 2-receptor antagonist drug to reduce acid produced by stomach cells. It was advertised as a treatment for heartburn, duodenal and gastric ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux disease, Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome, and other conditions associated with excess stomach acid. By 1988, Zantac became the world’s top-selling drug, reaching one billion dollars in sales. An over-the-counter version of Zantac was approved and introduced in 2004. In addition to GlaxoSmithKline, other major manufacturers of the drug and its generic form include Sanofi, Boehringer Ingelheim, Pfizer, and others.

The Current List of Cancers associated with Zantac and its Generic form are:

• Bladder
• Breast
• Colorectal/intestinal
• Esophageal
• Gastric
• Kidney
• Liver
• Lung
• Pancreas
• Prostrate

Other forms of cancers are being investigated as potentially being caused by Zantac and its generic drug.

Scientific evidence supports the Dangers of NDMA

The FDA determined that the daily intake of the chemical NDMA should not exceed 96 nanograms. When tested by Valisure, they found 2,511,469 nanograms of NDMA in Zantac OTC and 3,267,968 nanograms of NDMA in Zantac Cool Mints. Research strongly suggests that drugs containing NDMA are essentially unstable. The carcinogen levels increase when the drug is stored, exposed to prolonged heat, or exposed to chemicals found in the body and certain foods. Patients who use the drug on a long-term basis are at high risk for a cancer development.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, animals exposed to the drug have developed tumors in the liver, blood vessels, kidneys, and respiratory tract. There is evidence that multiple manufacturers knew about the carcinogenic effects of the NDMA since 1981 yet failed to warn consumers about the foreseeable risk.

The Significance of Location in a Multi-district Litigation

Multi-district litigations are legal mechanisms for hearing similar cases to expedite claims. This process consolidates complex cases so that they are managed in one location and one court. Multi-district litigation is currently being held out of Florida’s Southern District Court under U.S. District Judge Robin L. Rosenberg. Zantac victims throughout the U.S. may be eligible for this multi-district litigation. Due to many factors, the Judicial Panel on Multi-district Litigation selected the Florida Southern District Court of Florida to hear pending cases against the manufacturers of Zantac. The hearings’ location has procedural and substantive impacts on a case as different geographical areas can bring varying interpretations of the law.

The Effect of the Daubert Standard

The Daubert Standard is the court’s criteria to determine expert witness testimony’s admissibility in federal court. Trial judges use their discretion to determine if the methodology of expert witness testimony is reputable, credible, and relevant to a case based on specific factors. Failure to comply with the Daubert Standard can exclude an expert’s testimony.  This process will significantly impact the outcome of the pending Zantac lawsuits.

The Michael Brady Lynch Firm is a Premier, Nationwide Complex Litigation Trial Law Office

Our law firm has successfully represented thousands of consumers that defective drugs and medical devices have harmed. Sadly, many pharmaceutical companies neglect consumers’ well-being as they reap huge profits without informing consumers of potentially damaging drug side-effects. At The Michael Brady Lynch Firm, we believe in seeking justice by holding these pharmaceutical companies accountable. Our law firm has helped countless clients recover compensation to assist in their recovery. We have eased the financial burden for families that have lost loved ones in wrongful death claims. If you or a loved one was diagnosed with cancer after using Zantac, you might be eligible for compensation.

Contact the Michael Brady Lynch Firm at our Winter Park, Florida office at 888-585-5970 or 877-513-9517 for a free consultation and case review. Let us help you today.