In 2019, the Food and Drug Administration first announced that preliminary tests had discovered NDMA in ranitidine, which is found in Zantac and other heartburn medications. Additional data, however, continues to be discovered that further clarifies the dangers presented by Zantac. Most recently, the findings of three new studies have been published addressing the increased cancer rates among people who take Zantac.
While each study comes from different nationally acknowledged medical centers, each study focuses on the increased risks of several types of cancer associated with taking Zantac. Some of the types of cancer with an increased occurrence rate due to the NDMA located in ranitidine-containing heartburn medication include breast cancer, bladder cancer, kidney cancer, and stomach cancer. Troublingly, each of the studies suggests that even when Zantac and other heartburn medication is used as intended, a user’s odds of developing cancer are elevated.
The History Behind Zantac Recalls
For several years, the medical community has widely understood the cancer dangers associated with Zantac. In 2019, the Valisure company tested Zantac as well as other heartburn medications containing ranitidine and assessed that each contained high levels of NDMA. A year later, the Food and Drug Administration called for the removal of Zantac as well as other ranitidine-containing heartburn medications from the market.
In supporting its argument for such a widespread recall, the FDA argues that the medication products high amounts of NDMA. If Zantac and other heartburn manufacturers had sufficiently disclosed details about this chemical as well as its cancer risk, the FDA argues, consumers could have avoided the risk of cancer as well as other illnesses and chosen to use safer alternative medications to combat heartburn.
Study # 1 – Cancers Journal
The first of the three notable Zantac studies, “The Association between Ranitidine Use and Gastrointestinal Cancers,” concludes that people who take Zantac are three times more likely to develop gastrointestinal cancer as a result of the NDMA in the drug. This conclusion was the result of an analysis of the FDA’s Adverse Events Reporting System, particularly reports involving the various medications used to combat heartburn. When compared to other heartburn medications, researchers found ranitidine was associated with an elevated risk of gastrointestinal cancer.
Study # 2 – Sloan Kettering
The second study on ranitidine use, “N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) production and variations in cancer diagnoses,” was performed at Sloan Kettering, which is a world-recognized cancer treatment and research facility in New York City. The study confirmed the link between ranitidine and NDMA through lab-simulated conditions. Situations were created in the study in which ranitidine would create NDMA. These conditions were intended to simulate the human digestive system. Varying concentrations of ranitidine and nitride were then added to this environment. The study determined that NDMA was generated at dangerous levels when ranitidine was introduced to settings with a lower pH. The researchers in the study concluded that the situations in which NDMA is most often used are the same scenarios in which ranitidine’s dangerous cancer-causing qualities are elevated.
Study # 3 – Valisure
The third study, “Analysis of Ranitidine-Associated N-Nitrosodimethylamine Production under Simulated Physiologic Conditions,” was performed by Valisure, an online pharmacy. This study is similar to the Sloan Kettering research in the sense that both experiments attempted to simulate a human environment in laboratory conditions. Valisure researchers in this study analyzed the conditions when Zantac tablets are digested across various concentrations of nitrite, ranitidine, and pH. Researchers determined that the NDMA level produced from a standard tablet amount of ranitidine increased with growing nitrite and decreasing pH. Following the publication of the study, the founder and CEO of Valisure, who is also an author of the experiment, commented that this data supports research that ranitidine is “fundamentally unstable” and creates the carcinogenic substance NDMA in various conditions including those that mimic the human body.
What Compensation Can You Expect as Part of a Zantac Lawsuit?
If you or a loved one faces cancer resulting from taking Zantac, a seasoned defective drug attorney can help you pursue compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. Some of the types of damages that our lawyers can help Zantac victims receive include:
- Loss of future earning capacity as a result of the illness that resulted from Zantac usage
- Medical bills associated with diagnosis and treating the illness caused by Zantac
- The discomfort and pain that results from the medical condition created by Zantac
- Work wages that the victim lost as a result of the Zantac-caused condition
How a Zantac Attorney Can Fight for You
The victims of Zantac-associated illnesses and their loved ones sometimes hesitate to obtain the assistance of an experienced attorney because they are not sure how they will pay for an attorney. Remember, our lawyers do not collect a fee unless we are successful in obtaining compensation for you. There are also some other reasons why you might decide to retain the assistance of a lawyer at our firm. Some of the other advantages that victims realize by obtaining our legal services include:
- Our legal team can review your medical records as well as other vital paperwork to establish that you took Zantac for a specific period of time. Our lawyers can also utilize this paperwork to show the court that you have cancer and that is one of the types of cancer caused by the NDMA found in Zantac or another heartburn medication.
- Victims are often faced with pressing concerns, which can lead to an urgency to resolve a claim. Sometimes, this means that victims are left receiving a lower amount of compensation than they deserve. Our lawyers are prepared to fight to make sure that you receive the greatest amount of compensation possible.
- Our lawyers have an accessible team of medical experts as well as other professionals who have the resources necessary to make sure you present the strongest case possible.
Obtain the Assistance of a Zantac Recall Attorney
If you or a loved one took Zantac and later were diagnosed with an associated cancer or other illness as a result, it is in your best interest to speak with a knowledgeable lawyer. Contact the Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe LLP today to schedule a free case evaluation.
For a free legal consultation, call 516-358-6900
