February 12, 2020 | General

On February 6, 2020 the United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation entered an Order consolidating claims in the products liability litigation against the manufacturers the medication Zantac (Ranitidine). Hundreds of actions have been filed across the country by individuals who have been diagnosed with cancer due to their reliance on and use of Zantac in which the active molecule Ranitidine can form the carcinogen NDMA, either during storage or when metabolized in the human body. If you previously used Zantac or a form of Zantac for a period of more than one year and have been diagnosed with Cancer contact our law firm now to have your case evaluated and your claim filed timely!

What is Zantac? Zantac (Ranitidine) is a heartburn antacid medication that was first developed by GSK in 1977 and later approved by the FDA in 1983. It was first developed, manufactured and sold as a prescription medication. In 2004 Pfizer developed the Over-The-Counter version of Zantac. In 2019 Valisure, an online pharmacy that conducts routine testing of medication discovered that the Ranitidine molecule converted into NMDA either in storage or upon consumption into the human body due to its “inherent instability”. As a result of this finding almost every form of Zantac and Ranitidine has been recalled by the FDA due to its propensity as a human carcinogen and likelihood to cause cancer.

What is NDMA? Is a chemical that has been classified as a probable carcinogen by the EPA, meaning it is a cancer-causing chemical. NDMA works as a carcinogen by modifying your DNA and has been shown in experiments to increase cancer risk in manner that is beyond acceptable. According to the FDA, the acceptable daily limit of NDMA consumption in humans is less than 96 nanograms.

How much NDMA is in Zantac and how does it affect its consumers?  Zantac has been shown in testing to convert to over 800,000 nanograms of NDMA in the human body following consumption of a single dose. A Stanford University study on the oral intake of Ranitidine was perform in 2016 which evidenced the presence of NDMA in a subject’s urine following ingestion of Zantac to be in excess of 495 times the FDA daily limit. A Mitch Study completed in 2016 also discovered NDMA in urine following ingest to be in excess of 40,000 nanograms. Unfortunately, this is especially concerning because only 5% of the NDMA ingested or contained in the human body is excreted in urine. This means that the actual levels of ingestion are in excess of 800,000 nanograms or 9,900 times the acceptable daily limit.

How does this affect my likelihood of developing cancer? According to studies and the FDA the acceptable level of cancer due to exposure to a carcinogen is in the range of 1 in 10,000 to 1 in 1,000,000.  The Toxicologist. Society of Toxicology 54th Annual Meeting and ToxExpo, March 22-26, 2015, San Diego, California. Zantac is generally known to be a medication that is taken routinely for long periods of time. It is not a cure to antacid, but rather a coping mechanism. As such, its consumers typically have histories of taking it for years and decades. This causes it to be even scarier as with Zantac and NDMA exposure the longer you take the drug the higher the cancer risk increases. Exposure to 1 tablet of Zantac per day increases cancer risks as follows:

• 1 year use of Zantac – 1 in 2,300 chance of developing cancer
• 4 years use of Zantac – 1 in 584 chance of developing cancer
• 8 years use of Zantac – 1 in 292 chance of developing cancer
• 12 years use of Zantac – 1 in 195 chance of developing cancer
• 16 years use of Zantac – 1 in 146 chance of developing cancer

What is more is the latency period for developing cancer due to Zantac (ranitidine) use is extreme, meaning you can develop the cancer even years or decades after discontinuing use of Zantac. It is unlikely that you will develop Zantac related cancer within 2 years of first beginning use of Zantac, however you may be diagnosed with cancer over 40 years after ceasing its use.

What types of Cancer does Zantac (Ranitidine) use cause?  Zantac is believed to cause many different types of cancer due to NDMA being the carcinogen including but not limited to:

• Kidney Cancer / Renal Cancer
• Liver Cancer
• Pancreatic Cancer
• Bladder Cancer
• Stomach Cancer
• Colon Cancer
• Colorectal Cancer
• Esophageal Cancer
• Throat Cancer
• Nasal Cancer
• Lung Cancer
• Pancreatic Cancer
• Prostate Cancer
• Testicular Cancer

Who is qualified to file a claim? You may be qualified to file a claim if:

• You have used Zantac for at least 1 year and have later developed one of the types of cancer set forth above.
• A family member (spouse, child, parent, sibling) has used Zantac for at least 1 year and later was diagnosed with cancer and died from the cancer within the past 2 years.

What if I used a generic form of Zantac? Even if you used a generic form of Zantac or had mixed use between brand name and generic forms of Zantac you still may be able to file a claim and receive significant compensation depending on which form of generic you used and what jurisdiction you reside in. If you reside in the states of California, Vermont, Illinois, Massachusetts you will be able to proceed with a claim even if you only took the generic forms of Zantac. If you reside in other states it may still be possible depending on the state and form of Zantac you took, you should contact our office to review your file and help make that determination for you.

What compensation am I able to recover if I qualify?  If you have a qualifying claim for your use of Zantac (Ranitidine) you may be entitled to recover significant compensation. The various elements of damages available to you include, but may not be limited to:

• Past and Future medical expenses to treat for injuries;
• Past and Future pain and suffering that results from the injuries, both from a physical and mental standpoint;
• Past and Future wage loss;
• Loss of consortium due to the loss of relationship with a loved one, spouse, parent, or child depending on the jurisdiction; and
• Punitive damages, if deemed appropriate.

I want to move forward and file my claim for cancer caused by Zantac (Ranitidine) use, what should I do? Contact the law offices of High & Younes and ask to speak to attorney Frank Younes at your soonest convenience. You may call 402-933-3345 or email attorney Frank Younes directly at Frank@hyattorneys.com.