HARMFUL DRUGS, MEDICAL DEVICES, ANDÂ CONSUMERÂ PRODUCTS
Zantac Cancer Litigation
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What is Zantac?
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Zantac was a popular prescription and over-the-counter medication used to treat heartburn. Zantac was primarily used to treat heartburn. Chronic heartburn that interferes with daily life is also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Zantac’s active ingredient, ranitidine, is a histamine-2 blocker that works to reduce acid in the stomach. The Food and Drug Administration has linked this ingredient to a probable human carcinogen called N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA).
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For decades doctors prescribed and recommended over-the-counter Zantac and generic Ranitidine to treat conditions that contribute to the overproduction of stomach acid, such as ulcers, GERD, Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, and other. However, the FDA asked for the recall of all forms of ranitidine over the presence of NDMA, which may contribute to higher rates of cancer among patients.
Discovery of N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) in Zantac
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In September 2019, online pharmaceutical company Valisure discovered dangerously high levels of NDMA in some batches of Zantac. NDMA is a chemical that researchers use to induce tumors in laboratory animals. NDMA is a probable human carcinogen that may contribute to a higher risk of certain types of cancers, including the following:
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Bladder cancer
Prostate cancer
Esophageal cancer
Pancreatic, Gastric, and Stomach cancers
Liver cancer
Breast cancer
Colorectal cancer
Lung cancer
Kidney cancer
The FDA Recalls Zantac
Valisure’s discovery of NDMA in certain batches of Zantac prompted the FDA to launch an investigation. The FDA tested batches of generic ranitidine and Zantac medication for the presence of NDMA and determine that some products contain dangerous levels of NDMA contamination. Such contamination may increased when the product is stored, especially if exposed to higher temperatures - such as during transportation and shipping. In some cases, NDMA levels increased even when researchers stored the drug properly. In April 2020, the FDA requested the removal of all ranitidine products, including Zantac, from the American market.
If you or a loved one took Zantac or Ranitidine and have developed cancer please call Ruvinskiy Law Firm at 314-549-5531 to discuss your legal rights. A drug manufacturing company and/or retail seller may owe you financial compensation. Our Zantac lawyer also handle wrongful death claims.