Judge Allows Zantac Cancer Lawsuits to Proceed: Drugmakers' Appeal Rejected

A Delaware Superior Court judge has rejected drugmakers' appeal to dismiss over 70,000 lawsuits alleging that Zantac, a popular heartburn medication, caused cancer in users. The decision allows the lawsuits to proceed, potentially leading to trials and compensation for victims.

Consumers Affected: Individuals who took Zantac and were subsequently diagnosed with various types of cancer, including breast, bladder, uterine, prostate, liver, gastric, colorectal, and infant testicular cancer.

Reason for Lawsuit: Allegations that drugmakers knew about the cancer risks associated with Zantac's active ingredient, ranitidine, but failed to warn consumers and continued to profit from the drug.

Court: The lawsuits have been consolidated into a multi-district litigation (MDL) in Delaware Superior Court.

The plaintiffs behind more than 70,000 lawsuits that accuse drugmakers of selling allegedly cancer-causing heartburn medication Zantac have been given a boost by a Delaware Superior Court judge who denied the drugmakers’ appeal of a decision allowing the litigation to move forward.

In Zantac latest news, Judge Vivian Medinilla ruled the lawsuits that allege taking zantac increases risk of some cancers (which have been consolidated in a sweeping multi-district litigation in Delaware) can move forward with expert witness testimony—which is crucial to the plaintiffs’ cases, Reuters reports. If the state high court in Delaware agrees with her, the plaintiffs in the cases could finally be heading to trial. 

“Judge Medinilla resoundingly rejected GSK, Boehringer Ingelheim, Pfizer, and Sanofi's attempt to end run around the jury system in Delaware,” lawyer for the plaintiffs Jennifer Moore told Reuters.

If you or a loved one were diagnosed with certain cancers after taking Zantac or ranitidine, you may qualify for a FREE case review. Fill out the form on this page for more information.

What is Zantac and Why Are Thousands of Lawsuits Being Filed?

Zantac, created in 1981 and approved in 1983, quickly became a household name for those dealing with heartburn and ulcers, and was top-selling medicine by 1988. It was created by an early version of pharmaceutical giant GSK and was sold on to a number of other companies, including Pfizer. 

At first, Zantac required a doctor’s prescription but as its popularity soared and it became a billion dollar drug, it transitioned to over-the-counter status and its usage became even more widespread for heartburn and stomach ulcers.

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Cancer Risks Linked to Popular Zantac Heartburn Drug

After forty years, unsettling research began to surface, including studies that indicate a link between Zantac's active ingredient, ranitidine, and various types of cancers due to the formation of NDMA, a cancer-causing chemical. Several types of cancer linked to NDMA include:

• Breast cancer: Research suggests a significant risk increase, particularly ductal carcinoma and estrogen receptor-positive/progesterone receptor-positive ductal carcinoma.
  
  

• Bladder cancer: Studies have indicated a substantial risk, especially with prolonged usage.
  
  

• Uterine cancer: Animal studies have suggested a connection to uterine cancer, with human observational studies supporting these findings.
  
  

• Prostate cancer: Exposure to NDMA has been linked to a higher incidence of prostate cancer and mortality.
  
  

• Liver cancer: The evidence points to an increased risk following the use of ranitidine.
  
  

• Gastric cancer: The risk appears to extend throughout the gastric system, with some studies showing alarming increases in risk percentages.
  
  

• Colorectal cancer: A significant jump in risk percentage has been associated with the use of Zantac.
  
  
• Infant testicular cancer: There is a concern over exposure in utero leading to testicular cancer in infants.

The research led to voluntary recalls in 2019 and, in a stunning move, the FDA’s complete withdrawal of the drug from the market in 2020.

Drugmakers Knew the Risks, Lawsuits Claim: Zantac Cancer Litigation Moves Forward

After the FDA pulled the drug from the market, lawsuits filed by thousands of people who had suffered from cancer after taking Zantac started to pile up. The lawsuits accused drugmakers of failing to warn them about the risks associated with taking Zantac.

The lawsuits accuse GSK and other drugmakers of knowing about the risks, but choosing to keep them secret in order to continue profiting from the drug—an allegation that raises profound ethical questions about the responsibilities of pharmaceutical companies and the transparency required in the healthcare industry.

Following the influx of class action lawsuits, numerous courts have consolidated the actions into Zantac Class Action Lawsuit MDLs—including the one in Delaware, which includes the majority of the Zantac cancer lawsuits. Even today new lawsuits continue to accrue in Delaware state court for the Zantac MDL.

At the start of the month, a group of plaintiffs suffering from colorectal/colon cancer, prostate cancer, and breast cancer, among other serious illnesses filed suit against Zantac manufacturers GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Sanofi, and Patheon.

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Drugmakers and Plaintiffs Clash Over Zantac's Safety

In June, Medinilla ruled that expert testimony could be used in the Zantac cancer lawsuits, something crucial to the plaintiffs’ case. The drugmakers appealed the decision, and that appeal was just rejected by Medinilla.

Following the rejection, GSK said in a statement that "the scientific consensus remains that there is no consistent or reliable evidence that ranitidine increases the risk of any cancer." The company argued that Medinilla should have followed the lead of a federal judge in Florida, who in 2022 said expert testimony was not allowed in an MDL accusing the companies of the same thing. Without the testimonies, the trials cannot proceed. 

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other industry groups supported the drugmakers, saying in a filing that supported the appeal that Medinilla's ruling lowered evidence standards in business-friendly Delaware could turn the state into "a hotbed of products-liability and mass-tort litigation, Reuters reported. 

Were You Harmed by Zantac? Learn Your Legal Options and Seek Compensation

GSK has already submitted an appeal to Delaware Superior Court asking for the court to exclude the witness testimony. If the court rules the same way as Medinilla and rebuffs the appeal, the cases will head to trial. 

Meanwhile, GSK has reached a confidential settlement in an Illinois Zantac lawsuit, where the plaintiff alleged their prostate cancer was caused by Zantac use, marking another case resolved as the MDL moves forward. In May, Pfizer agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits filed by former Zantac users costing the company up to $250 million.

If you or someone you care about has taken Zantac and subsequently developed cancer or tragically passed away, you might be eligible for compensation. This situation has not only brought to light significant health risks associated with a widely used medication but also the potential for legal recourse for those affected. It's important to explore your options and understand your rights in this matter. 

Seeking advice from a legal professional who is knowledgeable about the ongoing litigation against Zantac manufacturers could provide you with the necessary guidance to pursue a claim.

If you or a loved one were diagnosed with certain cancers after taking Zantac or ranitidine, you may qualify for a FREE case review. Fill out the form on this page for more information.