In cases currently in front of the United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation as of March 2020, claimants allege that Zantac and other ranitidine drugs can cause a wide variety of cancers in many parts of the body because they contain N-nitrosodimethylamine, or NDMA.
According to a products liability litigation involving Zantac from Docket Bird, “Between animal studies, human dietary studies, and occupational exposure studies, nearly two hundred scientific literature articles have been published that demonstrate NDMA’s propensity to induce tumors at numerous organ sites, including the stomach, intestine, liver, pancreas, esophagus, kidney, and bladder.”
These claims stem from similar cases brought together under the mass tort against the makers of heartburn and reflux medication Zantac and its generic equivalents. When it comes to the kind of cancer Zantac can cause, research points to liver and lung cancer.
Animal Studies Point to Serious Concerns About NDMA
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a link between exposure to NDMA and the development of lung and liver cancer has been proven in mice, rats, hamsters, and other animals. The agency states that there are no proven reports of NDMA causing cancer in humans, but it may be possible.
It is also important to note that animal research shows NDMA can cause serious liver and lung cancer and other types of liver damage. Even when the animals ate, drank, or inhaled NDMA contaminated food, water, or air in only small amounts but over a long period of time, it caused damages.
Animals exposed to higher levels of NDMA over days or weeks develop serious liver damage, internal bleeding, and succumbed to death. The kind of cancer Zantac can cause in humans includes liver and lung cancer.
Proving a Link Between Zantac, NDMA, And Your Cancer Diagnosis
Before you can recover compensation in a Zantac cancer lawsuit, you will need to prove a link between your ranitidine use and your cancer diagnosis. Again, research points to lung and liver cancer as the kind of cancer Zantac may cause. This proof may require gathering and presenting dozens of studies related to NDMA exposure, identifying and working with numerous expert witnesses, and taking other steps to:
- Help the judge and jury understand NDMA, its uses, and its dangers
- Explain the process of how NDMA exposure may be exponentially higher than it seems with these medications
- Link NDMA exposure to the type of cancer you have
When you participate in multidistrict litigation, you will share this burden with the other claimants in the case. The advantage of multidistrict litigation is that you work together with others who file similar cases during discovery, pre-trial motions, and the initial handful of trials.
This means you will not need to hire experts or understand complex scientific research on your own. You will share the cost and responsibility with others in the multidistrict litigation.
The Zantac Cancer MDL is Growing Quickly
The concern over popular heartburn and reflux medication Zantac began in fall 2019. It quickly escalated as a voluntary recall plus an overabundance of caution to pull all ranitidine products from shelves in many locations. Studies showed that some ranitidine-based medications contained a probable carcinogen or metabolized into this carcinogen.
Within weeks, the first suits were filed, with claimants alleging Zantac caused them to develop cancer. As of February 19, 2020, there are 140 lawsuits in an approved multidistrict litigation against the manufacturers of these drugs. These lawsuits target both prescription and over-the-counter ranitidine products.
It is important to note that it is still very early in the legal process for these cases. The numbers are likely to grow quickly in the coming months. There is still time for you to file your lawsuit and join multidistrict litigation 2924.
Take Action to Hold The Drug Companies Accountable Today
If you used Zantac or a generic medication and later received a cancer diagnosis, we encourage you to take action today. You may be able to hold the drug companies liable for damages, recovering money to help you pay for your treatment and care, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.
While there is still time to file an individual lawsuit, join the multidistrict litigation, or join a class action if the pending cases get approved for class status, there will be a deadline for filing these types of cases in the future. You want to act today before you lose the right to do so.
Talk to a Zantac Cancer Attorney About Your Case
At Zanes Law, our Zantac cancer lawyers are now accepting ranitidine cases from anywhere in the United States. We will review your case for free and may be able to help you pursue a payout based on the facts of your case.
Call 866-499-8989 now to discuss your case with a member of our team. Your free consultation and sign up can be done in one phone call.