Zantac Lawyer: Top Zantac Cancer Lawsuit Attorneys, 2023 Update

If you’ve used the popular heartburn drug Zantac or generic brands of the ranitidine product in the past, it’s important to know about the possible dangers of this over-the-counter drug. You may have heard in the news that Zantac, also known as ranitidine, has been linked to cancer. Nationwide, Zantac lawsuits against manufacturers allege the drug contains a cancer-causing chemical called N-nitrosodimethylamine NDMA. At Marin and Barrett, Inc., our top Zantac drug cancer lawyers are currently reviewing claims of individuals who took Zantac and later received a cancer diagnosis.

Recently, hundreds of Zantac Cancer Lawsuits have been filed involving former Zantac heartburn medication users who have received a cancer diagnosis following years of exposure to ranitidine. The Zantac law firms who have filed the existing federal Zantac lawsuits allege the defendants, pharmaceutical companies including Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Sanofi, Chattem, Pfizer, and Glaxosmithkline, failed to disclose to consumers that the weight of scientific evidence showed Zantac exposed users to unsafe levels of NDMA and that they failed to report these cancer risks to the FDA. These federal Zantac lawsuits against the have been consolidated for purposes of discovery and other pre-trial aspects of the lawsuits in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida and are overseen by U.S. District Judge Robin L. Rosenberg.  It is anticipated that bellwether trials will commence in the fall of 2022 and into early 2023.

The Latest Zantac Updates

ZANTAC, RANITIDINE AND CANCER

Approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1981, Zantac (ranitidine) was long considered to be a safe and effective treatment of gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD). In fact, the active ingredient in Zantac, ranitidine, has been used by hundreds of millions of people with heartburn, acid reflux, and gastric ulcer symptoms. It is estimated that over 120 million over-the-counter packages of Zantac have been sold annually in the United States alone.

However, recent studies have shown that persons taking Zantac or ranitidine are at a heightened risk of developing cancer. On September 26, 2019 the FDA announced the voluntary recall of over-the-counter ranitidine products labeled by Walmart, Walgreens, and Rite Aid that were produced by Apotex Corp. Then later, on April 1, 2020 the FDA released a statement requesting that manufacturers withdraw all prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) Zantac and ranitidine drugs from the market immediately.

WHAT IS THE EVIDENCE THAT ZANTAC CAUSES CANCER?​

Following reports of elevated levels of NDMA in ranitidine medicines to the FDA in June 2019, testing revealed that levels of NDMA in ranitidine actually increased over time if stored at room temperature. Since the summer of 2019, additional testing has shown that exposing ranitidine to high temperatures can lead to even greater increases in NDMA. the World Health Organization and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classify NDMA as a “probable human carcinogen.”

The FDA found that the older the age of the ranitidine product, or the longer the length of time since it was manufactured, the greater the level of NDMA. Factor in the correlation between storage temperature and manufacture date of any given individual’s Zantac supply, the levels of NDMA may eventually exceed acceptable daily intake limits.

Though research into the long-term consequences of ingestion or consumption of toxic carcinogens such as NDMA and NDEA is ongoing, the preliminary results are certainly concerning and show an increased risk of cancer.

There has been a recent groundswell of lawsuits filed nationwide claiming that manufacturers of Zantac, such as GlaxoSmithKline, Boehringer Ingelheim, Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, and Sanofi, knew about the levels of NDMA within ranitidine and the risks of cancer associated with the use of their products, yet failed to inform the public. Until as recently as March 30, 2020, Zantac was still readily available for sale with minimal warning of the risk of using the drug. Here at Marin and Barrett, Inc., a Zantac Cancer Lawsuit Lawyer can help those injured and sickened by Zantac obtain compensation.

ZANTAC CANCER LAWSUITS: DO I QUALIFY FOR A ZANTAC CANCER LAWSUIT? WHAT COMPENSATION CAN I RECOVER?

In light of the recent recall of medications that contain ranitidine, at least a hundred injured plaintiffs across the country have filed Zantac lawsuits and ranitidine lawsuits seeking compensation for their medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering and, in the most unfortunate cases, funeral expenses. Manufacturers of Zantac such as Sanofi, Boehringer Ingelheim, Johnson & Johnson, and Pfizer knew or should have known that the active ingredient, ranitidine, contained dangerous levels of the cancer-causing carcinogen, NDMA. Many of these lawsuits allege that the manufacturers knew of the potential harm the NDMA-associated dangers posed to consumers by these products and actively concealed the dangers from the public.

As a result of the number of persons injured by taking Zantac coming forward (and the corresponding Zantac lawsuits against the drug manufacturers), the United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (“MDL”) consolidated the Zantac lawsuits in the Southern District of Florida under U.S. District Judge Robin Rosenberg. The job of the panel on the MDL is to determine whether civil actions pending in different federal districts involve one or more common questions of fact such that the actions should be transferred to one federal district for coordinated or consolidated pretrial proceedings; and to select a judge or judges and court assigned to conduct such proceedings.

Plaintiffs in California, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, and Tennessee have filed Zantac lawsuits against manufacturers of Zantac in their respective jurisdictions, but the MDL determined that the Southern District of Florida was the most appropriate venue for consolidation given that the majority of those injured after using Zantac live there. In the transfer order, the panel said the Zantac cases “could be a large litigation.” As of February 2020, there were over 140 pending Zantac lawsuits, although that number is expected to climb in the coming months and years.

Unfortunately, as the case has unfolded many of the initial claims have been removed from the Zantac MDL.  In 2021, the Judge in the Zantac mulit-district litigation dismissed the legal claims brought against the makers of generic ranitidine products and the retail stores that sold Zantac products including CVS and Rite Aid.  This meant that those individuals who took the generic versions of Zantac, known as Ranitidine, would not be able to pursue their personal injury claims.

Then, in 2022 the Plaintiffs revealed that their expert witnesses could not establish a link between Zantac and a number of cancers including brain cancer, testicular cancer, colorectal cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and lung cancer.  This severely limited the forms of cancer that were eligible to continue pursuing a cancer claim.

Unlike class action lawsuits, the Zantac lawsuits that have been consolidated in the Federal Courts as part of the multi-district litigation (MDL) process are mass tort cases.  The Zantac MDL allows Zantac claims to use a streamlined discovery process while offering the Zantac claimant the ability to later return their claim to their local Federal District Court for a Zantac trial.  The Zantac MDL cannot force a Zantac settlement on all the other members of the Zantac MDL the way a traditional class action lawsuit can.

With so many instances of individuals unknowingly taking products tainted with NDMA coupled with the unwillingness of the Zantac manufacturers to take responsibility to warn the public, it is likely that more Zantac users will realize that they were seriously harmed by the product. If you or a loved one has become injured or ill after using Zantac, do not hesitate to call the dangerous drug attorneys at Marin and Barrett, Inc. at 888-348-2735 today, the consultation is confidential and of absolutely no cost to you.

RANITIDINE: WHAT IS IT? IS IT IN ZANTAC? DOES ZANTAC CAUSE CANCER?

Prescription ranitidine and Zantac OTC are used for treatment and prevention of stomach ulcers, intestinal ulcers, heartburn, and treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease. These medicines are known as H2 (histamine-2) blockers and work by decreasing the amount of acid created by the stomach thereby alleviating discomfort associated with digestive disorders. Ranitidine is typically ingested by tablet, liquid, or capsule form in the morning and in the evening (or before the first and last meal of the day). If you are currently taking Zantac or have recently, you should contact your prescribing doctor or primary care physician immediately. Recent laboratory tests conducted by the FDA have shown that the active ingredient in Zantac and ranitidine puts people more at risk to developing certain types of cancer.

WHY DID THE FDA RECALL ZANTAC?

In September 2019, the FDA discovered through independent laboratory test results that some ranitidine medications such as Zantac contained N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) at low levels. NDMA is classified as a probable human cancer-causing carcinogen. The FDA, however, did not issue a recall at that time for ranitidine because the NDMA levels were deemed low enough that it “would not be expected to lead to an increase in risk in cancer”. Instead, the FDA issued a warning to the public that there were potential risks to using ranitidine medications and urged the public to consider alternative over-the-counter and prescription treatments.

It was not until April 1, 2020 that the FDA actually issued a formal recall of products containing ranitidine. Because the initial FDA warning in 2019 did not require the manufacturers to take the products out of circulation, drugs such as Zantac stayed on the market notwithstanding the fact that they had been shown to contain the cancer-causing carcinogen NDMA.

POPULAR PRODUCTS THAT CONTAIN RANITIDINE INCLUDE:

WHAT IS NDMA? DOES ZANTAC CONTAIN NDMA?

NDMA is an environmental contaminant that is found in water and foods, including dairy products, vegetables, and grilled meats. Its classification as a probable carcinogen is based on studies in animals; studies in humans are very limited. According to a 2008 report published by the World Health Organization, NDMA can occur in drinking-water through the degradation of dimethylhydrazine, a component of rocket fuel, as well as from several other industrial processes. ​ There is conclusive evidence that NDMA is a potent carcinogen. This has been demonstrated through experiments exposing animals to NDMA through several ways, including through ingestion of drinking-water.

As a consequence of the clear evidence of carcinogenicity, there have been few studies of other possible toxic end-points, and even fewer studies of tests on humans due to the demonstrable evidence of carcinogenicity.​

It is important to note that although carcinogenic, the FDA has determined that NDMA in small amounts is acceptable. According to the FDA, consuming up to 0.096 micrograms or 0.32 parts per million (ppm) of NDMA per day is considered reasonably safe for human ingestion based on lifetime exposure. FDA has set the acceptable daily intake limit for NDMA at 0.096 micrograms or 0.32 ppm for ranitidine. However, a recent test of ranitidine conducted by Valisure, a pharmacy/laboratory based in Connecticut, showed that one 150 mg tablet of Zantac produced 3 milligrams of NDMA, 1,700 times the exposure level found to be carcinogenic in some studies. These findings were reported to the FDA in June 2019 and ultimately led to the FDA issuing an announcement that ranitidine medicines, including Zantac, contained NDMA, the cancer-causing carcinogen.

ZANTAC LAWSUITS: WHAT COMPENSATION CAN BE RECOVERED IN A ZANTAC CANCER LAWSUIT?

If you took Zantac and have been diagnosed with cancer, our attorneys will be seeking the following damages for you:

• Past and future medical expenses that result from your diagnosis and treatment
• Past and future pain and suffering (physical and mental) caused by your diagnosis, treatment, and the recovery process
• Past and future wage loss
• Past and future loss of earning capacity
• Past and future loss of enjoyment of life
• Punitive damages to deter drug companies from selling harmful products in the future

ZANTAC LAWSUIT JURY VERDICTS AND SETTLEMENT AMOUNTS

At this time, there have been no settlements or jury verdicts involving Zantac and its cancer causing properties. In February 2020, Multidistrict Litigation ordered that all Zantac cases be centralized and consolidated in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida where the litigation will be overseen by U.S. District Judge Robin L. Rosenburg during coordinated discovery and pre-trial proceedings.

ZANTAC LAWSUIT

If you or a loved one has developed colon cancer, liver cancer, cancer of the uterus, rectal cancer, stomach cancer, kidney cancer, esophageal cancer, pancreatic cancer, or bladder cancer and believe that use of Zantac may be responsible call us today. We will examine you case for free and at no obligation to you and help you determine whether you have a claim. The call, consultation, and information are no-obligation and completely confidential. Our Zantac cancer law firm works with and among some of the most regarded legal professionals in the industry all in the interest of getting you everything you deserve.

At Marin and Barrett, Inc. we believe is a fully transparent fee structure. We work on a strictly contingency fee basis, meaning that we do not receive anything from you unless we are able to recover money either by settlement or verdict. Regardless of what type of case you have or what is required, you will know everything up front with no surprises. We shoulder the costs of the filing and litigation on your behalf and at no risk to you. A top rated Zantac cancer lawyer can help you bring an individual lawsuit against the drug company that produced the defective drugs that harmed you to cover your medical costs. If you used the over-the-counter medication, you can show prior use through receipts, notes in your medical record, or even through witnesses who live with you and can testify to your regular use of the drug.

Contact our team of Zantac personal injury lawyers at Marin and Barrett, Inc. today at 888-348-2735 to schedule your free consultation, it only takes a few moments and there is no obligation.  We have a personal injury attorney standing by to discuss your claim with you.

ZANTAC DISCLAIMER

Disclaimer: Do not stop taking a prescribed medication without first consulting with your doctor. Discontinuing a prescribed medication without your doctor’s advice can result in injury or death. Past results afford no guarantee of future results and each case is different and is judged on its own merits. Some cases result in no recovery. Costs and expenses will be advanced and reimbursed to us only if you recover. You have no liability for costs or expenses unless a court directs. The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely upon advertisements. Some matters may be referred to other lawyers. From Marin and Barrett’s offices in Rhode Island the firm has represented clients from all parts of Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Massachusetts and has partnered with other law firms to serve clients throughout the U.S.

ATTORNEY MATTHEW MARIN

Admitted in Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts and South Carolina​

ATTORNEY KENSLEY BARETT

Admitted in Rhode Island