Multidistrict litigation is beginning in a federal court in Florida against Zantac maker. The manufacturer claims that the lawsuits contain no solid evidence of any link between cancer and the medication. However, several individuals have filed their own lawsuits against the manufacturer, alleging the product is responsible for diagnoses of cancer.
Claims Against Zantac
One claim against Zantac comes from a father of four kids who has been diagnosed with a rare form of bladder cancer. He had been taking Zantac regularly before the medication was removed from shelves. Their claim states that the manufacturer knew that a carcinogen was produced when someone ingested Zantac, but they failed to disclose this information to the FDA or to the public.
The lawsuit claims that the company put profits ahead of people in safety while marketing aggressively. Three defendants are involved in the cases:
- GlaxoSmithKline – the manufacturer from 1983 to 2009 that also marketed the drug
- Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals – the manufacturer and marketer of an OTC version of Zantac from 2006 to 2017
- Sanofi – the company that has the rights to the OTC Zantac from 2017 to the present
The plaintiffs are asking the courts to award them for lost wages, payment for medical expenses and legal fees, as well as pain and suffering.
Other people have made claims that Zantac caused cancer even if they haven’t filed formal cases against the manufacturer. Some of these alleged victims have taken the drug for two years or longer. They may have used the medication daily to deal with an upset stomach or acid reflux.
The dangers doesn’t just exist against the prescription medication. Claims have been made against the OTC version as well. In all these cases, the victims allege that the manufacturer never warned them that Zantac could cause cancer, especially cancer of the stomach and bladder.
Another plaintiff has filed a lawsuit alleging that the drug caused his colon cancer that was diagnosed as Stage 3. This victim was from Georgia and had been taking Zantac for five years.
The FDA has requested that all versions of Zantac be removed from the market. Canada hasn’t yet followed this lead.
More Cases Expected in the Future
More than 200 cases have been filed against the makers of Zantac with thousands more expected. The MDL was established in February of 2020, which consolidates 140 of these lawsuits into one.
Zantac was regularly prescribed for treatment of heartburn as well as prevention. It was used for gastroesophageal reflux disease, stomach ulcers and various conditions which caused the stomach to make too much acid. Information indicated that the level of a probable carcinogen increased over time and especially if the drug was stored at higher temperatures. It could even produce this carcinogen after being ingested.
Anyone who has developed cancer after taking Zantac for a longer period of time may be eligible for compensation. More lawsuits are expected to be filed in this case by those who deserve compensation for their losses.
EN
ES