Since the FDA removed Zantac from the market in 2020, it is difficult to determine the exact expected Zantac settlement value a victim of Zantac-related injury would receive. However, if you suffered injuries as a result of your use of Zantac or another ranitidine-containing medicine, you should consider visiting with a drug injury attorney in order to discuss your particular case and the amount of compensation you may receive in your Zantac settlement.
Understanding Zantac Lawsuits and Ranitidine Cancer
Millions of people used Zantac throughout the world, and it was a commonly used medication for those who suffered from acid reflux and heartburn in the United States. However, in 2019, Ranitidine tested positive for a cancer-causing chemical NDMA (N-nitrosodimethylamine). The World Health Organization (WHO), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry have classified NDMA as a carcinogen for decades.
After the link between NDMA and Zantac occurred, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) issued a recall of Zantac, from the market. Other nations followed, and companies manufacturing Zantac stopped producing this medication due to the link to this carcinogen. The Zantac lawsuits indicate that manufacturers that created and sold Zantac either knew, or should have known, that their Zantac medication contained a known carcinogen and unsafe levels of NDMA for humans. Therefore, these manufacturers had the legal responsibility to warn users of their medication of the possible harms and risks associated with their drug.
The Dangers Associated with NDMA
There are very real and significant dangers associated with NDMA. In fact, as indicated in the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, the United States originally produced NDMA as a chemical intended for rocket fuel. When the chemical was subsequently found in areas such as the air, soil, and water in the area near a rocket fuel manufacturing plant that contained this chemical, production immediately ceased due to its toxic nature. It is true that in some cases, NDMA will form in certain manufacturing processes unintentionally or during specific chemical reactions (either natural and man-made), however, no matter how the NDMA occurs, it is always considered toxic and carcinogenic.
Sanofi and Zantac
Zantac was manufactured and distributed in the United States by a large pharmaceutical international company known as Sanofi (formerly known as Sanofi-Aventis). After the discovery of NDMA in Zantac in the summer of 2019, Sanofi pulled all its Zantac products from the shelves throughout the United States on October 18, 2019. Many of the class action lawsuits as well as individual lawsuits regarding the development of cancer-related to the use of Zantac will likely occur against Sanofi.
Determining Eligibility to File a Lawsuit for Zantac Cancer
While any person has the legal right to file a lawsuit, most specifically, if someone consumed Zantac for a long period of time, or in large regular doses, and has subsequently received a diagnosis of cancer, they may have a case to file a lawsuit against Sanofi or another Zantac manufacturer for their medical bills and losses. Some of the types of cancer that may have a relationship to Zantac include cancers of the stomach, liver, kidney, bladder, testicular, uterine, small intestine, colorectal, and esophageal.
Current Lawsuits Regarding Zantac
The first lawsuit, Garza et al v. Sanofi-Aventis, was officially filed on September 13, 2019. Since then, other lawsuits from victims suffering from different types of cancer which they believe relate to Zantac were also filed. On November 4, 2019, a petition was officially filed to consolidate all Zantac lawsuits regarding the connection between Zantac and cancer into a centralized location for one federal judge. While some consider this a class action lawsuit, it is actually a Multidistrict Litigation known as an MDL. This MDL No. 2924 was officially consolidated on February 6, 2020 and includes 140 cases relating to cancer and Zantac in the Southern District of Florida under U.S. District Judge Robin Rosenberg.
Other cases include Blake v. Boehringer Ingelheim, et al. (1:19-cv-02991 – D. Colorado) and Kerzer v. Sanofi-Aventis U.S., et al. (1:19-cv-24092-RNS – S.D. Florida), both of which include victims who took Zantac over several years and then developed bladder and kidney cancer respectively. However, more cases continue to occur throughout the country and likely, the Zantac lawsuits will continue to grow in number over time.
How a Drug Injury Lawyer Can Help You
While no person can give you a specific dollar amount regarding a Zantac settlement value, if you feel you developed any type of cancer-related to your use of Zantac over a substantial amount of time, consider visiting with our legal team at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm at (800) 794-0444. We can help you understand how you may have a case against a Zantac manufacturer, due to the personal injuries and losses you suffered. Contact us today for a free consultation.