At the end of last year the popular heartburn medication Zantac, or ranitidine, was recalled due to unsafe levels of N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) found in it. The drug was recalled by the FDA due to the potential public health risk it was posing. The company that originally produced the drug, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), recalled the product in October of 2019. However, it is now becoming clear that GSK and other producers of ranitidine should have known about potential dangers of this drug but continued to produce and sell it anyway.
History of GSK and Ranitidine
Zantac came to the market in 1983 under GSK. The drug remained under their patent and sold exclusively by them for several years until 1996. Afterwards, their patent was no longer exclusive and many other versions of the drug became available. In 2017, the U.S. brand rights of Zantac were sold to Sanofi, a U.S. based, wholly-owned subsidiary of the French parent company of the same name. Since then, Sanofi manufactured and distributed the drug in the United States until recently pulling it from shelves as a result of the recall.
Dangers of Ranitidine
When Ranitidine was developed by GSK in the 80s, there was existing literature which suggested that this type of drug could contain NDMA when combined with substances that already exist in the human body. In addition, at the time this drug was developed, many articles were published commenting on its potential toxicity.
Since this information was known or knowable, GSK should have been aware that the drug they were producing had potential to be carcinogenic to humans. GSK had access to this research but chose to market the product anyway. This, in turn, raises their responsibility, potentially making them liable in the event that people develop cancer due to taking ranitidine or its branded name, Zantac.
How a Personal Injury Attorney Could Help
If you or a loved one developed cancer after taking ranitidine produced by GSK for an extended period of time, you may be entitled to compensation. A personal injury attorney could help you seek out options in choosing a path forward to seek the best outcome. Contact an experienced personal injury attorney at Whitley Law Firm today.
Whitney Butcher, an attorney at the Whitley Law Firm, is pursuing several claims of individuals developing cancer of the stomach, colon, intestines, kidneys, bladder, and pancreas following the consumption of Zantac/ranitidine. If you believe you or a loved one may have a case, get in touch with our office today.
