Ranitidine, branded and sold under the name Zantac has been marketed and sold both as a prescription and over-the-counter as a medication for heartburn relief.
First developed in 1977 by GSK, Zantac got FDA approval in 1983. It wasn’t until 2004 that Pfizer developed its over-the-counter version of the drug, they in turn sold it to Boehringer Ingelheim in 2006. Due to its popularity, OTC Zantac was sold again in 2017 this time to Sanofi-AS. Why was a hugely successful drug peddled so much by large pharma? As of 2019, there are more than 20 known generic versions of the drug. However, recent research has indicated Zantac could contain a dangerous carcinogen MDMA, and because of this, it has been recalled.
If you or a loved one has recently been diagnosed with cancer and has been taking Zantac, please do not hesitate to contact the Dolman law group today to arrange an application and hassle-free case evaluation.
What exactly is NDMA?
NDMA is a substance that is suspected of causing cancer in humans. On top of its used in the rocket fuel industry, but it is being seen to produce tumors in animals during the lab experiments. These tests led the FDA to limit the daily allowance of NDMA to 96ng.
Following a statement issued by the FDA in September 2019, some Ranitidine products may contain low levels of NDMA. They further disclosed in October 2019 that they found elevated levels of NDMA in other ranitidine samples. These statements immediately prompted a recall of the drug around the world.
What exactly is the issue with Zantac antacid?
In chemical tests conducted by Valisure LLC, high levels of NDMA were detected in many samples of ranitidine. Some were found to have concentration-level up to 15,000 times higher in California recommended limit in their water.
Further studies at Stanford university look at the levels of NDMA in patients 24 hours before taking Zantac and again 24 hours later. These studies revealed that NDMA levels in the urine of participants were over 400 times above the recommended amount averaging nearly 50,000ng per person. Further tests were conducted on other popular heartburn medications such as Pepcid, Nexium, and Prilosec, none of which contained NDMA. This is not to say that these drugs are without their own problems, some are being closely linked to renal failure.
Cancers that have been linked to Zantac usage
This is not an all-inclusive list.
- Bladder Cancer
- Brain Cancer
- Breast Cancer
- Colorectal (Colon) Cancer
- Esophageal Cancer
- Intestinal/Small Intestine Cancer
- Kidney Cancer
- Leukemia
- Liver Cancer
- Lung Cancer
- Multiple Myeloma
- Nasal Cancer
- Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (also linked to Roundup Weed Killer)
- Ovarian Cancer
- Pancreatic Cancer
- Prostate Cancer
- Stomach Cancer
- Testicular Cancer
- Throat Cancer
- Thyroid Cancer
- Uterine Cancer
If you or any of your family have cancer and you know that they have taken Zantac in the past. We would be honored to discuss your case further. We at the Dolman Law Group are a team of experienced public liability attorneys. Each of you has decades of experience tackling just this type of lawsuit, they’re dedicated to getting their clients compensation they deserve. Contact one of our team today to arrange a free consultation.
