;)
July 10th, 2023Pharmaceutical giant GSK recently settled a lawsuit that alleges its heartburn medication, Zantac, causes cancer. This resolution is another pivotal moment in Zantac litigation, halting the impending trial of the first California Zantac bladder cancer lawsuit case. While it is too early to say, this Zantac settlement could also set the stage for GSK to settle thousands of other claims against the company before trial.
Zantac was first approved for use in the U.S. in 1983. Once approved, it quickly became one of the top-selling drugs on the market. However, in 2019, concerns surrounding Zantac emerged, centered around the discovery that the active ingredient in Zantac, ranitidine, could degrade over time and form a chemical called N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA).
NDMA, classified as a probable human carcinogen, raised alarm bells for prescription and over-the-counter Zantac. Consequently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ordered the immediate withdrawal of all brand-name and generic versions of Zantac from the market. The removal of ranitidine products like Zantac prompted a surge in lawsuits against manufacturers and distributors of the medication. Plaintiffs claim they developed several cancers from the NDMA in Zantac, including bladder, liver, pancreatic, stomach, and esophageal cancer.
On June 23, 2023, Zantac manufacturer GSK announced it had reached a settlement with James Goetz, a California resident who alleged that his use of Zantac led to his bladder cancer diagnosis. The claim filed by Goetz was the first California state case scheduled to go to trial. However, this confidential agreement has stopped the upcoming trial, scheduled for July 24. Pfizer and Sanofi had already settled with Goetz out of court in late 2022.
Notably, this trial would have marked the first test of Zantac cancer claims before a jury. If the Goetz case had gone to trial, it would have provided insight into how juries would react to the evidence and testimony that taking NDMA-contaminated Zantac resulted in cancer for users. GSK stressed that this decision was not an admission of liability. Instead, the company stated it chose to settle the California Zantac bladder cancer lawsuit to avoid distractions.
The amount of the settlement has not been made public. But lawyers for Goetz said they were pleased the company “agreed to settle and finally bring closure to Mr. Goetz.”
While GSK has resolved this particular case, it still faces a substantial number of lawsuits in state courts. Over 50,000 Zantac lawsuits are pending in state courts like California and Delaware. Although a federal judge dismissed cases in federal court in December 2022, state judges have ruled in favor of Zantac cases proceeding in state courts.
Despite the settlement of this California Zantac bladder cancer lawsuit, several other cases are slated for trial in California courts later this year. The next California Zantac trial is set to begin in November 2023.
If you or a loved one developed cancer after taking Zantac, you may be eligible to file a lawsuit. The Lake Law Firm understands the complexities of Zantac litigation and is helping individuals who have been injured pursue legal action. Contact The Lake Law Firm today for a free, confidential consultation at (888) 525-3529 to see if you qualify for a Zantac lawsuit.
The Lake Law Firm
N/a
