Zantac Trial Against Boehringer Ends in Third Hung Jury

Zantac Trial Against Boehringer Ends in Third Hung Jury

Introduction

A trial in California state court concluded with a hung jury in a lawsuit alleging that the heartburn medication Zantac, formerly produced by Boehringer Ingelheim, caused a man's bladder cancer.

The jury's stand on Zantac

The jury agreed that Zantac was dangerous and the company, which sold the drug from 2006 to 2017, failed to adequately warn consumers of its risks. However, the 12 jurors deadlocked 6-6 on whether the medication caused the plaintiff's cancer, resulting in no final verdict.

Third Zantac trial against Boehringer Ingelheim

This marks the third Zantac trial against Boehringer Ingelheim to end in a deadlock. The plaintiff’s attorneys said they are prepared to retry the case, asserting that the company narrowly avoided a verdict against it.

Boehringer Ingelheim's disappointment

Boehringer Ingelheim expressed disappointment over the lack of a decision but stated that plaintiffs failed to substantiate their claims.

The lawsuit centered on allegations that Zantac’s active ingredient, ranitidine, could degrade into NDMA, a potential carcinogen. First approved by the FDA in 1983, Zantac became a blockbuster drug by 1988, generating over $1 billion in annual sales. Over the years, it was marketed by companies including Boehringer Ingelheim, GSK, Pfizer, and Sanofi.

FDA request to pull the products from the market

Lawsuits surged after the FDA requested in 2020 that ranitidine products be pulled from shelves due to concerns about NDMA formation under certain conditions.

Zantac manufacturers stand against the lawsuits

While Boehringer Ingelheim denies wrongdoing, other manufacturers have begun settling lawsuits. GSK recently agreed to a $2.2 billion settlement covering around 80,000 cases. Pfizer and Sanofi have also reached settlements, with Sanofi resolving approximately 4,000 lawsuits earlier this year.

No plaintiffs have won a Zantac trial

Despite these settlements, no plaintiffs have won a Zantac trial. Two prior cases against Boehringer Ingelheim ended in jury deadlocks, while two others resulted in defense victories for GSK and Boehringer Ingelheim.

Pharmaceutical companies appeal against the decision

Delaware remains a focal point for the litigation, with a judge allowing plaintiffs to present expert testimony linking Zantac to cancer. The pharmaceutical companies are appealing this decision to the Delaware Supreme Court, arguing the expert evidence lacks scientific credibility. A prior ruling in federal court in Florida dismissed approximately 50,000 lawsuits based on similar arguments, though around 14,000 of those cases are currently under appeal.

Zantac 360: A new entrant

It’s worth noting that a new product marketed as Zantac 360 contains a different active ingredient, famotidine, and is not associated with ranitidine or NDMA concerns.

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