Zantac is a prescription drug introduced to the market in 1983 before becoming an over-the-counter heartburn medication in 1995. Ownership of the drug passed through many hands before Sanofi acquired it in 2017, who pulled it off the market in 2020 at the behest of the US Food and Drug Administration.

The drug was first flagged by Valisure, an online pharmacy which tests drugs for impurities. The drug was reported that under hot and humid conditions, ranitidine sometimes deteriorated and turned into an NDMA risk. On April 1, the FDA has requested that all manufacturers of prescription ranitidine withdraw their products from the market. With this Zantac recall, the FDA is also advising consumers taking OTC ranitidine to “stop taking any tablets or liquid they currently have, dispose of them properly and not buy more.”

Any military personnel who served at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) or Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987 might have been affected by the toxic chemicals in the Camp Lejeune water contamination. Medical and scientific evidence shows a correlation between toxic exposure with those poisonous chemicals during time spent in the military and increased risk of some diseases, including ALS, kidney, and liver cancer. 

The Camp Lejeune contaminated water affected veterans, guardsmen, and reservists who served at MCAS or Camp Lejeune bases for a minimum of one month from 1953 to 1987.  Also, all Camp Lejeune residents such as family members of Veterans who lived at MCAS and Camp Lejeune might have come into contact with contaminated water there.

The lawsuit was first brought to court by Joseph Bayer, who claimed the ranitidine medication caused his esophageal cancer. Bayer claimed the producers of Zantac knew of the NDMA level risks but continued to market the medication anyway for over four decades. Generic drug makers Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Perrigo Co., Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Inc. and Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Inc. have agreed to a settlement of over half a million dollars to Bayer. Since then, more than 2,000 former Zantac users sued the drug companies, with predictions there will be over 50,000 cases filed by October. 

The trial was scheduled for August 22 in Illinois, and would have been the first case judged by US jurors over the contamination of a widely used drug. However, Bayer recently dropped the case against brand name makers of Zantac since Bayer only took the generic brand of Zantac to treat his heartburn. 

On Tuesday, GSK made a statement that the lawsuit has been effectively dismissed. They claim the NDMA levels in the medication were close to what is already found in food, and that there is no scientific evidence to conclude the increase in cancer risk with the use of prescription ranitidine products. As of now, none of the brand-name makers of the now over-the-counter drug, including GSK, Pfizer and Boehringer Ingelheim, paid anything toward the settlement.

Zantac is a heartburn medication whose components are claimed to increase risk of bladder, colon, and prostate cancer. If you are taking any heartburn medication, be sure to check with your doctor to make sure you’re taking safe medication.

To qualify for the Zantac lawsuit, you must have medical records or receipts proving you have taken Zantac. You must have taken Zantac at least once a week for a year before being diagnosed with cancer. You must be 89 years of age or younger, and have developed cancer within 20 years of the last time you took Zantac. Be aware many lawyers are no longer accepting cases for generic Zantac, and are only accepting cases for those who have taken the name brand.

So far, there have only been settlements, which are confidential, in Zantac lawsuits. This means only those involved know the amount of each settlement, and it’s possible each settlement varies. The settlement could cover the cost of treatment, lost wages, funeral expenses, pain and suffering, and or more. Each case could total a significant amount, so it is worth speaking to an attorney to determine if you have a case.

Zantac is claimed to have potentially caused bladder cancer, liver cancer, pancreatic cancer, and stomach and esophageal cancers as well. Judges have ruled other cancers can be included.

To our current knowledge, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Perrigo Co., Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Inc. and Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Inc. have agreed to settlements in the lawsuits. Other brand-name makers of the now over-the-counter drug, such as GSK, Pfixer, and Boehringer Ingelheim, have also been filed against, with the possibility of more companies involved as well.

While there are currently several state lawsuits against the manufacturers and sellers of Zantac, all federal cases have been combined into a Multidistrict Litigation (MDL). An MDL is different from a class action suit, because a class action suit must have similar outcomes. Since the outcomes of all plaintiffs are different, they have been combined for the sake of efficiency. 

If you are ever unsure about any benefits you may be eligible for, consult Trajector, a company dedicated to helping you receive any medical, legal, and ethical benefits you qualify for.