Pfizer recently made the decision to settle over 10,000 Zantac lawsuits across the United States. While settling these lawsuits doesn’t fully resolve the issue with Pfizer and other companies who have put people at risk of cancer and other serious health conditions, it is a step forward to people getting the justice and financial recovery that they are owed.
Brief background on Zantac and its recall
Zantac was an over-the-counter histamine-2 blocker. Individuals who purchased Zantac usually presented symptoms of heartburn, stomach or intestinal ulcers, GERD, or acid indigestion. Some people know Zantac by its generic form, which is Ranitidine. While Zantac was a number one seller and popular medicine, it was recalled by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in April 2020 due to the possibility of cancer-causing impurities, such as NDMA, forming when the medicine was stored at warmer temperatures.
The FDA conducted an investigation and did not discover high levels of NDMA. However, the agency made the ultimate decision to recall the products and ban them from being sold because there was no way to determine how long the products may be stored in higher-than-normal room temperatures, which could put those who used these products at risk of developing cancer or other health conditions.
Thousands of lawsuits were immediately filed after the FDA announced the recall of Zantac. Many people had been diagnosed with serious forms of cancer, and there were direct connections between their diagnoses and their frequent use of the over-the-counter heartburn pills.
About the recent settlement agreement made by Pfizer
According to an article published in Bloomberg Law, Pfizer decided to settle over 10,000 lawsuits that claim the company hid Zantac’s risks of cancer from consumers. While Glaxo Laboratories, also known as GlaxoSmithKline, is the original creator of Zantac, other companies such as Pfizer also sold the product at some point before the recall.
Pfizer’s agreement to settle is one of the biggest deals that people who are in this Zantac legal battle have seen so far, and it is believed that it will encourage other companies to agree to settle as well. Pfizer made the following statement in an email: “Pfizer has explored and will continue to explore opportunistic settlements of certain cases if appropriate, and has settled certain cases. The company has not sold a Zantac product in more than 15 years and did so only for a limited period of time.”
Have other companies agreed to settlements for Zantac consumers?
The article points out that another company called Sanofi came to an agreement to pay over $100 million to settle around 4,000 Zantac lawsuits in April 2024. Zantac has had many investors during its 40 years of use, and Sanofi was one of these investors. Sanofi acquired Zantac sometime in 2017 and recalled it two years later, in 2019, after there were tests released showing that NDMA was present in the drug, which was believed to form in warmer temperatures.
The main creator of the former heartburn medicine, GlaxoSmithKline, has offered some settlements in Zantac cases before they made it to trial. However, the company continues to be the biggest defender, fighting against claims that they were aware of the fact that Zantac could harm consumers and put them at severe risk. One plaintiff’s attorney made the argument that GlaxoSmithKline put profit over the health and well-being of consumers, which is now why his client has colorectal cancer. The attorney for GlaxoSmithKline argued back that there is no scientific evidence that Zantac causes that disease.
Can’t you still buy Zantac from drugstores?
The original form of Zantac was taken off the market and prohibited from being sold in any store in the United States. However, there is a new form of Zantac that you can find at your local drugstores. The new product was launched in 2021 with the name Zantac360. The difference between the original Zantac and Zantac360 is that the product is no longer made with ranitidine and is now created using famotidine. GoodRX Health confirms that the new product does not pose any risks of cancer.
What types of cancers may qualify for a Zantac lawsuit?
Our law firm is currently working hard to help clients file Zantac lawsuits. Some of the various types of cancers that our clients have been diagnosed with after taking Zantac include:
- Breast cancer
- Colon cancer
- Bladder cancer
- Liver cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Stomach cancer
- Esophageal cancer
If you are located in Philadelphia, you have two years from your cancer diagnosis to file a claim against the at-fault party. Therefore, if you believe that you could qualify for a Zantac lawsuit, we recommend getting in touch with a product liability attorney from our office at your earliest opportunity to find out your potential legal options.
Were you diagnosed with cancer or another serious medical condition after taking Zantac on a regular basis? If so, the Philadelphia product liability lawyers at Kwartler Manus, LLC can help you pursue a lawsuit. We will evaluate your situation and determine whether you are eligible to recover compensation to help you pay for your medical treatments, lost income, pain and suffering, and more. Please visit our online contact page to schedule a meeting to begin discussing your case with a member of our team today. We have offices in Cherry Hill and Philadelphia for your convenience.