A Delaware judge has allowed more than 70,000 lawsuits regarding the discontinued heartburn drug Zantac to move forward. This decision, made by Judge Vivian Medinilla of the Delaware Superior Court in Wilmington, permits expert witnesses to testify that the drug may cause cancer.
Judge’s Ruling a Setback for Drugmakers
The ruling is a significant setback for former Zantac manufacturers GSK, Pfizer, Sanofi, and Boehringer Ingelheim. These companies had argued that the expert witnesses’ opinions lacked scientific support. However, Judge Medinilla stated that the validity of each side’s scientific arguments should be determined by juries.
Brent Wisner, a lead lawyer for the plaintiffs, expressed satisfaction with the decision, stating, “This moves us one step closer to justice for our clients.”
Delaware judge lets more than 70,000 Zantac lawsuits go forward : Drugmakers Plan to Appeal
GSK, Pfizer, and Sanofi have all expressed their intention to appeal the decision, maintaining that there is no reliable evidence linking Zantac to cancer. A spokesperson for Boehringer Ingelheim did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Background on Zantac Controversy
In 2019, sales of Zantac were halted after the detection of NDMA, a known carcinogen, in some pills. Tests revealed that Zantac’s active ingredient, ranitidine, could degrade into NDMA over time or when exposed to heat. This led to numerous lawsuits from individuals who claimed to have developed cancer after using Zantac. Plaintiffs argue that the companies knew or should have known about the cancer risk and failed to warn consumers.
