WE ARE NO LONGER ACCEPTING ZANTAC CASES

Over-the-counter Zantac (Ranitidine) is already one of the largest-selling antacids in the United States. Annual revenue exceeds $125 million. That market share was expected to triple by 2026. Then, the Food and Drug Administration found a dangerously-high level of a cancer-causing compound in Zantac. The watchdog then ordered Sanofi to stop selling the drug in New York. Now, it faces an uncertain financial future. NDMA exposure victims face uncertain futures as well. If that future includes cancer or another serious chronic condition, these victims can count on Napoli Shkolnik to fight for them. Our tenacious attorneys hold companies like Sanofi responsible when they recklessly endanger the lives of consumers. That responsibility includes compensation for economic losses, such as medical bills, and noneconomic losses, such as pain and suffering. Additional punitive damages might be available as well.

ZANTAC USES

Regulators approved this drug in 1983 as a treatment for ulcers. By 1988, Zantac was one of the best-selling drugs in history. It was one of the first pharmaceutical products to eclipse $1 billion in sales. The drug patent expired in 1997, so cheaper generics became available. So, the company needed a new strategy. In 2004, an over-the-counter Zantac appeared on store shelves nationwide. Today, people use Zantac to address a wide range of digestive problems, such as ulcers and heartburn. So, these people are already vulnerable to NDMA poisoning. As outlined below, this chemical has been linked to cancer in the digestive tract.

RANITIDINE AND N-NITROSODIMETHYLAMINE

NDMA, which is also known as dimethylnitrosamine (DMN), is a highly-toxic chemical commonly found in a number of everyday products. NDMA is often a by-product of certain manufacturing techniques. It’s also found naturally in the environment and in the human body, if certain alkylamines react with each other in certain ways. N-Nitrosodimethylamine is usually not harmful if the concentration is under ten nanograms per liter, or .33 parts per million. Minute levels of NDMA are usually in drinking water, because of chlorination. Small NDMA levels are also present in many cured meats and in tobacco smoke, largely as a manufacturing by-product. In July 2018, American and European regulators found unacceptably-high NDMA levels in valsartan, a blood pressure drug made in China that’s chemically similar to ranitidine. Subsequent Zantac tests confirmed regulators’ worst fears, and a recall announcement followed. Individuals who have taken Zantac are at increased risk for the following cancers:

• Tongue,
• Liver,
• Kidney (Renal),
• Prostate,
• Colorectal,
• Pancreatic,
• Stomach,
• Bladder, and
• Esophagus.

The good news for NDMA-related cancer victims is that this disease’s survival rates have increased significantly since the 1990s. Currently, many doctors foresee a day when cancer might be like diabetes or heart disease. The bad news is that effective cancer treatments are extremely costly. And, many health insurance companies refuse to cover injury-related costs. So, at Napoli Law, we connect victims with doctors who often charge nothing upfront. Unlike the executives at Sanofi, our first priority is your health.

LEGAL ISSUES

Under New York law, manufacturers are strictly liable for the injuries their defective products cause. That defect could be a design defect of a manufacturing defect. NDMA in Zantac is an example of a manufacturing defect. The company did not intentionally embed a carcinogen in its heartburn tablets. But in this context, intent is irrelevant. Other examples of some manufacturing defects include asbestos-laced talcum powder and dangerous Takata airbags. Frequently, manufacturers look to cut corners and save money as much as possible. Therefore, quality control practices during manufacturing are often suspect. As a result, asbestos particles find their way into talcum powder, unstable explosives are used in airbags, and tiny amounts of NDMA seep into Zantac. Legally, the manufacturer is responsible for all product defects which occur while the product is under the manufacturer’s control. That includes not only the manufacturing process, but also the delivery and shipping processes.

PROCEDURAL MATTERS

These cases are complex. Victim/plaintiffs usually present expert testimony that the drug or device was dangerous, and the manufacturer counters with evidence that the product is safe. So, any edge is important. Experienced Napoli Shkolnik attorneys do not have to look very far to find such an edge. Typically, claims like these go to Multidistrict Litigation sites. To many lawyers, MDL is a major problem. These attorneys often lack the resources to deal with large-scale cases like these. But the Napoli Law team knows how to leverage MDL to benefit victims. Cases are consolidated for pretrial purposes. So, manufacturers cannot use razzle-dazzle to convince judges to dismiss meritorious cases. Furthermore, once one case settles, that settlement creates momentum in other settlement negotiations. Through the whole process, different plaintiffs from different states can pool their resources. Zantac-related NDMA poisoning might lead to serious injury. For a free consultation with an experienced personal injury attorney, contact Napoli Shkolnik PLLC. We do not charge upfront legal fees in injury cases.