At Colson Hicks Eidson, we have regularly discussed the cancer risks posed by Zantac and other generic forms of ranitidine. Over the last year, these medications have been recalled, and major companies have pulled them from their shelves. Now, federal investigators are looking into whether two drugmakers may have known about a probable carcinogen in Zantac and other forms of ranitidine but failed to disclose that information with the government.
Us Department Of Justice Investigating Two Drugmakers Over Zantac
When pharmaceutical companies or manufacturers have information related to their products being unsafe, they cannot legally hide this information. That is why the US Department of Justice is investigating whether GlaxoSmithKline and Sanofi violated the False Claims Act by possibly failing to disclose the presence of n-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) inside of Zantac and the generic forms of the heartburn medication.
NDMA has been classified as a probable human carcinogen. In April of 2020, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requested that all manufacturers remove the prescription and over-the-counter ranitidine products from the market.
GlaxoSmithKline is the original manufacturer of Zantac, though Sanofi currently holds the rights to the Zantac brand name in the United States. GlaxoSmithKline and other drug companies currently sell the generic form of ranitidine in the US. If these drugmakers knew of the dangers of Zantac and the generic forms of the medication and failed to disclose this information to the federal government, they could face significant repercussions.
The presence of NDMA in these medications was discovered by a private laboratory that routinely tests prescription medications. These labs discovered that Zantac 150 mg tablets could contain as much as 2,500,000 nanograms of NDMA. However, humans can only safely consume 96 nanograms of NDMA per day, according to the FDA.
There may be various types of cancers linked to Zantac and other ranitidine products, including the following:
- Stomach Cancer
- Liver Cancer
- Bladder Cancer
- Small Intestine Cancer
- Colorectal Cancer
- Esophageal Cancer
- Prostate Cancer
- Lung Cancer
- Testicular Cancer
- Ovarian Cancer
- Uterine Cancer
- Nasal/Throat Cancer
- Thyroid Cancer
- Pancreatic Cancer
- Kidney Cancer
- Brain Cancer
You Can Contact Us For A Free Consultation Of Your Case
If you or somebody you love has been diagnosed with cancer, and you believe the illness was caused by taking Zantac or another form of ranitidine, contact an attorney immediately. At Colson Hicks Eidson, our nationally-recognized product liability lawyers are actively involved in helping clients with these cases. Our goal is to investigate your case in order to determine whether you are entitled to the following:
- Compensation for medical bills related to your cancer diagnosis
- Lost income if you are unable to work due to your diagnosis
- Pain and suffering damages
- Loss of enjoyment of life damages
- Possible punitive damages against the makers of the harmful medication
Our team understands that most individuals who contract cancer caused by possible NDMA exposure will not have the resources necessary to thoroughly investigate their claim and secure the compensation they need, but we are ready to help. If you need a Zantac cancer attorney in Florida or throughout the US, you can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or by calling us at 305-476-7400.
