Is this common heartburn drug putting you at risk for cancer? Recent settlements raise concerns
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Navigating the world of medication can often feel like a tightrope walk, balancing the relief of symptoms against the potential side effects and risks.
For many Australians over 60, heartburn is a common ailment, and the search for effective treatment is a serious concern.
However, recent news has cast a shadow over one popular remedy, prompting us to ask: Is a common heartburn drug putting you at risk for cancer?
Pfizer, a pharmaceutical giant, recently agreed to settle over 10,000 lawsuits that accused the company of concealing cancer risks associated with the heartburn drug Zantac.
While the exact financial details of the settlement remain under wraps, this move follows a similar settlement by Sanofi, another pharma heavyweight.
Last month, Sanofi resolved 4,000 Zantac-cancer claims with a payout exceeding US$100 million (around AU$152 million).
The controversy surrounding Zantac, an over-the-counter medication, escalated in the United States in 2020 when the drug was withdrawn from the market.
This decision came on the heels of animal studies that identified the presence of ‘probable human carcinogens’ released by a key ingredient in the drug.
From 1998 to 2006, Pfizer was the primary manufacturer of Zantac. During this period, several lawsuits alleged that the company should have been aware of the drug's contamination with N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA)—a chemical byproduct found in many industrial processes, including rocket fuel production.
NDMA is also present in low quantities in various foods like cured and smoked meats, fish and beer, and tobacco smoke.
It is classified as a ‘forever chemical’, which means it does not naturally degrade in our bodies and is believed to cause DNA damage.
After the drug was withdrawn and reformulated, numerous lawsuits emerged in federal and state courts against Pfizer, GSK, Sanofi, and Boehringer Ingelheim, all of whom held rights to the medication.
According to sources familiar with the matter, Pfizer's agreements only address cases in US state courts and do not fully resolve the company's liability for Zantac claims.
Financial terms of the settlements were not immediately disclosed.
‘Pfizer has explored and will continue to explore opportunistic settlements of certain cases if appropriate and has settled certain cases,’ the company wrote in an email.
‘The company has not sold a Zantac product in more than 15 years and did so only for a limited period of time.’
It's important to note that, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), no cancer cases have been officially linked to Zantac.
However, thousands of patients alleged otherwise, and animal studies have indicated that NDMA can increase the risk of cancers in the oesophagus, kidneys, and stomach.
There was also a suggested link to colorectal cancer, which has been on the rise among young Americans.
In 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ordered all products containing ranitidine, the active ingredient in Zantac, to be removed from shelves and advised patients to discontinue any medications containing the ingredient.
In the wake of Pfizer's agreement to settle thousands of lawsuits over the alleged cancer risks associated with the heartburn drug Zantac, the pharmaceutical industry faces increased scrutiny over drug safety and transparency.
However, amidst these legal battles, there's a glimmer of hope in the medical field with the emergence of a breakthrough drug for hard-to-treat cancers.
Scientists are celebrating the development of this ‘truly wonderful’ medication, which promises new avenues for treating challenging forms of cancer.
Have you been affected by the Zantac recall? What alternatives have you found effective for managing heartburn? We encourage you to share your experiences and concerns in the comments below.
For many Australians over 60, heartburn is a common ailment, and the search for effective treatment is a serious concern.
However, recent news has cast a shadow over one popular remedy, prompting us to ask: Is a common heartburn drug putting you at risk for cancer?
Pfizer, a pharmaceutical giant, recently agreed to settle over 10,000 lawsuits that accused the company of concealing cancer risks associated with the heartburn drug Zantac.
While the exact financial details of the settlement remain under wraps, this move follows a similar settlement by Sanofi, another pharma heavyweight.
Last month, Sanofi resolved 4,000 Zantac-cancer claims with a payout exceeding US$100 million (around AU$152 million).
Pfizer settled over 10,000 lawsuits claiming Zantac, its heartburn medication, caused cancer. Credits: Shutterstock
The controversy surrounding Zantac, an over-the-counter medication, escalated in the United States in 2020 when the drug was withdrawn from the market.
This decision came on the heels of animal studies that identified the presence of ‘probable human carcinogens’ released by a key ingredient in the drug.
From 1998 to 2006, Pfizer was the primary manufacturer of Zantac. During this period, several lawsuits alleged that the company should have been aware of the drug's contamination with N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA)—a chemical byproduct found in many industrial processes, including rocket fuel production.
NDMA is also present in low quantities in various foods like cured and smoked meats, fish and beer, and tobacco smoke.
It is classified as a ‘forever chemical’, which means it does not naturally degrade in our bodies and is believed to cause DNA damage.
After the drug was withdrawn and reformulated, numerous lawsuits emerged in federal and state courts against Pfizer, GSK, Sanofi, and Boehringer Ingelheim, all of whom held rights to the medication.
According to sources familiar with the matter, Pfizer's agreements only address cases in US state courts and do not fully resolve the company's liability for Zantac claims.
Financial terms of the settlements were not immediately disclosed.
‘Pfizer has explored and will continue to explore opportunistic settlements of certain cases if appropriate and has settled certain cases,’ the company wrote in an email.
‘The company has not sold a Zantac product in more than 15 years and did so only for a limited period of time.’
It's important to note that, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), no cancer cases have been officially linked to Zantac.
However, thousands of patients alleged otherwise, and animal studies have indicated that NDMA can increase the risk of cancers in the oesophagus, kidneys, and stomach.
There was also a suggested link to colorectal cancer, which has been on the rise among young Americans.
In 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ordered all products containing ranitidine, the active ingredient in Zantac, to be removed from shelves and advised patients to discontinue any medications containing the ingredient.
In the wake of Pfizer's agreement to settle thousands of lawsuits over the alleged cancer risks associated with the heartburn drug Zantac, the pharmaceutical industry faces increased scrutiny over drug safety and transparency.
However, amidst these legal battles, there's a glimmer of hope in the medical field with the emergence of a breakthrough drug for hard-to-treat cancers.
Scientists are celebrating the development of this ‘truly wonderful’ medication, which promises new avenues for treating challenging forms of cancer.
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