AstraZeneca faces a PPI stomach cancer lawsuit alleging that their Nexium products increase the risk of stomach cancer.

Nexium is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) drug available through a prescription or over the counter. Plaintiff Stanley B. says he started using prescription Nexium in September 2002 and used the drug daily through October 2017.

In September 2017, however, Stanley says he was diagnosed with gastric cancer and had to undergo significant surgery and treatment. In his PPI stomach cancer lawsuit, Stanley argues that his stomach cancer was a direct result of his long term treatment with Nexium.

What are PPI Drugs?

PPI drugs such as Nexium are commonly prescribed to treat a variety of peptic disorders including heartburn, peptic ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and NSAID drug induced gastropathy. The drugs work by inhibiting the production of stomach acid.

Although this mechanism is effective at treating peptic diseases, studies show it may increase the risk of stomach cancer.

According to the PPI stomach cancer lawsuit, long term acid suppression through the use of PPI meds can increase levels of gastrin in the stomach which interferes with stomach health. The condition of elevated gastrin is known as hypergastrinemia.

Evidence has allegedly been available since the 1980s which showed that hypergastrinemia significantly increases the risks for developing cancer. Studies have concluded that long term use of acid suppressing drugs, such as PPI meds, can cause hypergastrinemia and other cancer precursors.

“Various medical and scientific groups around the world, for 30 years and more, have investigated, and published, on the role of gastrin and the risk of PPI treatment with respect to gastric cancer,” the PPI stomach cancer lawsuit reports.

Insufficient Warning

Despite the countless studies done and the wide array of scientific evidence available, plaintiffs say PPI manufacturers allegedly refuse to warn consumers of the risks of their products. Instead, manufacturers allegedly allow their drugs to be overprescribed to patients who will only be harmed by the long term use of the medications.

“When warning of the safety and risks of Nexium, Defendants negligently represented to the medical, healthcare, regulatory community, the Plaintiff’s prescribing and treating physicians, and the public in general, that esomeprazole magnesium had been tested and found to be safe and/or effective for its indicated use in treating peptic disorders,” the PPI stomach cancer lawsuit claims.

Stanley argues that Nexium manufacturers knew or should have know of the risks of PPI drugs but intentionally misrepresented their products to the public and to the healthcare community. This misrepresentation allegedly tricked Stanley and his physician into believing that Nexium was a safe treatment option.

Because of the manufacturers’ alleged misrepresentation, Stanley claims, he took the drugs for years without knowing that he was increasing his risk for cancer. In fact, Stanley says he only realized that his long term use of Nexium was related to his stomach cancer diagnosis after the fact when he saw an advertisement for legal representation.

Stanley brings claims against AstraZeneca and Merck for design defect, inadequate warning, breach of express warranty, breach of warranty in redhibition, and other violations of Louisiana state laws. The PPI stomach cancer lawsuit seeks compensatory damages, special damages, interest, court costs, and attorneys’ fees.

The PPI Stomach Cancer Lawsuit is Case No. 3:18-cv-01063-SDD-EWD in the Nineteenth Judicial District Court for the Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana.