USA — The highly anticipated first trial in the United States concerning allegations that the heartburn drug Zantac causes cancer is now scheduled to commence in California state court on November 13.
The litigation involves claimants asserting that Zantac is responsible for various forms of cancer, including colorectal, breast, and bladder cancer.
Previously, a trial involving a different claimant was expected to occur next month but was called off after British drug manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), the sole defendant in the case, reached an undisclosed settlement without admitting liability.
Numerous lawsuits over Zantac have been filed against GSK, Sanofi SA, Pfizer, and Boehringer Ingelheim, all of which marketed the drug at different times.
The upcoming trial aims to test the strength of the claims and may significantly impact negotiations for a broader settlement.
While not all companies are named in every lawsuit, each defendant has consistently denied the allegations that Zantac can cause cancer.
The specific case scheduled for trial in November is yet to be determined, as confirmed by a GSK spokesperson.
Originally approved in 1983, Zantac became a global bestseller in 1988 and one of the first drugs to surpass US$1 billion in annual sales. It was initially marketed by a predecessor of GSK.
In 2019, concerns arose when manufacturers suspended Zantac sales due to the potential degradation of its active ingredient, ranitidine, which could form a cancer-causing chemical known as NDMA.
While small amounts of NDMA can be found in food and water, studies have linked higher concentrations to cancer.
In 2020, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) removed all remaining brand name Zantac and generic versions from the market.
However, the drug makers achieved a significant legal victory in December when a federal judge dismissed all Zantac cases in US federal court, totaling around 50,000, on the basis that the expert opinions presented by the plaintiffs lacked solid scientific support.
The remaining cases are pending in state courts, predominantly in Delaware, where over 70,000 cases await resolution.
According to DrugWatch, legal representation is generally no longer available for individuals who consumed the generic form of Zantac.
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