New Zantac Lawsuits Emerge After Pennsylvania Man Dies

A Pennsylvania man has filed a lawsuit against the makers of Zantac. He filed the lawsuit himself on behalf of his wife’s estate and himself.

According to the lawsuit, the man’s wife began using Zantac in 2015. She took it several times a week until she developed stomach cancer. In 2018, she died. The plaintiff alleges that it was the Zantac that caused her stomach cancer. His lawsuit will be rolled into a class-action in federal court. Below, we’ll discuss the Zantac lawsuits.

Does Zantac Cause Cancer?

Zantac is a medication used to treat heartburn, peptic ulcers, and other gastrointestinal inflammation. Since 1983, it has been sold both over the counter and prescribed. However, in September of 2019, the FDA warned that batches of Zantac had become contaminated with NDMA, a carcinogen.

NDMA is classified as a “probable human carcinogen” by the FDA. It is generally formed as a byproduct of various industrial processes. In some cases, it can form in the body after certain metabolic processes. The digestion of Zantac is believed to cause NDMA to form in the body. The NDMA then does irreversible damage to DNA within cells, resulting in cancerous malformations within the body.

Studies Link NDMA to Stomach Cancer

Animal studies have linked NDMA to stomach cancer and stomach bleeding. For that reason, NDMA has been classified as a “probable” human carcinogen. In a human study of 23,000 men and women ages 40 – 79, NDMA ingestion was significantly correlated to gastro-intestinal disturbances, stomach cancer, and rectal cancer.

Since traces of NDMA have been found in Zantac, the FDA has pulled the drug off the market. The generic drug ranitidine has been sold in drug stores under various names.

It is not clear whether or not the drug itself is responsible for the stomach cancer or tainted batches of Zantac contained the cancer-causing agent. An online pharmacy was the first to discover NDMA in Zantac and filed a report with the FDA, notifying them of their findings. They then filed a citizen’s complaint asking that ranitidine be pulled from the market. The FDA agreed.

The Class-Action Lawsuit

Plaintiffs against Zantac will be rolled into a single class for the purposes of litigation. Those who either developed complications due to Zantac use or those who lost family members to cancer after they used Zantac will be able to join the lawsuit.

The allegations against Zantac include design defect, failure to warn, breach of implied warranty. The plaintiff mentioned above will be seeking damages related to the death of his wife. These will include loss of consortium and loss of companionship. He will seek both compensatory and punitive damages.

Talk to a Miami Wrongful Death Attorney

If you’ve lost a loved one due to a dangerous or defective product, call the Miami personal injury attorneys at the office of Alan Goldfarb P.A. to schedule an appointment and discuss your situation. The initial consultation is free and there is no obligation to move forward.

Resource:

pittsburgh.legalexaminer.com/legal/pa-man-files-zantac-wrongful-death-lawsuit/

https://www.goldfarbpa.com/coronavirus-and-infectious-disease-lawsuits/