Consumers in West Virginia were shocked to learn that the heartburn medicine that they have taken for decades was pulled from the shelves for good out of a concern that it contained a carcinogen. Now people who claim that this medicine made them sick are beginning to file lawsuits against the maker of the drug in what could ultimately become one of the largest mass tort lawsuits in history.
Zantac was voluntarily recalled by its maker in September 2019 as test results revealed that it contained a substance called NDMA. When humans consume this substance in large enough amounts, it can ultimately cause cancer. NDMA is found in many foods, but the substance becomes dangerous when it is ingested in higher volumes regularly. When people have taken a heartburn drug daily for years, it could pose a danger.
Dozens of new cases are being filed each week. Given the number of people who have relied on Zantac over the years, the universe of potential plaintiffs can be huge. Many who have taken the drug and are suffering side effects want the makers of Zantac to take responsibility by settling the cases filed against them. In the meantime, these lawsuits are still in their early phases, and there is much that needs to happen in the legal process before it is known if the company will pay and how much.
Those who were regular users of Zantac and have now been diagnosed with certain types of cancer may be entitled to substantial financial compensation. Victims should contact a mass tort attorney to learn more about how to file a lawsuit against the manufacturer of the drug. Lawsuits can take several years to work their way through court, so plaintiffs should file their cases as soon as possible.
