A Rhode Island man recently filed a lawsuit against several major pharmaceutical companies, claiming that the drug ranitidine resulted in his diagnosis of bladder cancer.

Lawsuit Filed Over Link Between Zantac and Bladder Cancer

Michael L. filed his lawsuit against Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Sanofi US Services, Chattem, Pfizer, and GlaxoSmithKline on Feb. 28, 2020. According to him, the drug companies did not adequately warn patients of the link between Zantac and bladder cancer. Recent testing done on several companies’ versions of Zantac, or ranitidine, indicates that the drug may be affected by a carcinogenic contaminant known as NDMA.

According to Michael, he began to use a generic version of Zantac in 2014, taking the pill approximately five times a week for the treatment of heartburn until 2019. Zantac, the brand name for the drug ranitidine, is used to treat the symptoms of several conditions, including gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), peptic ulcers, and Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.

In October 2019, Michael was diagnosed with bladder cancer. According to him, he believes that his cancer diagnosis is directly related to his long-term use of Zantac. It is currently unknown how long the medication has been contaminated with NDMA, but the carcinogen may have been present in the drugs for years.

It is possible that Zantac may have become contaminated with NDMA at some point during the manufacturing process. Several factories that produce the drug have been inspected in an attempt to pinpoint the cause of the contamination.

Michael claims that if he had been warned by the drug manufacturers about the potential link between Zantac and bladder cancer, he would not have taken the medication. Instead, he was unaware of the connection between the medication and cancer until he saw a news article discussing the NDMA contamination.

What is NDMA?

NDMA, or nitrosodimethylamine, is a carcinogen that is also sometimes found in water, as well as in foods including smoked meats, vegetables, and dairy products. Although some contact with NDMA is unavoidable due to its presence in the environment, exposure to a high amount of NDMA may result in negative consequences including jaundice, nausea, fever, vomiting, dizziness, and cancer.

After NDMA was discovered in Zantac and generic ranitidine in 2019, many manufacturers and distributors of the medication have recalled the drug or pulled it from store shelves. At least 1,500 samples of ranitidine have been tested, and several samples have contained levels of NDMA that exceed the acceptable daily limits set by the FDA.

According to Michael, the manufacturers of Zantac and generic ranitidine failed in their duty to test their drugs for potential contaminants, as well as failing to warn consumers of the risks associated with their products. Michael’s Zantac lawsuit is seeking compensation for him and others who were harmed by contaminated Zantac.

If you have taken Zantac and have developed side effects due to NDMA including cancer, you may be eligible to hire an experienced attorney to review your case and determine whether you qualify to file a Zantac class action lawsuit.

Michael’s Zantac Lawsuit is Case No: 1:20-cv-00099-WES-LDA, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island.