Zantac settlements

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Ranitidine, a heartburn medicine sold under the brand name Zantac among others, was pulled from shelves in 2019,[1] following disclosure [2] of potential carcinogenic effects,[3][4] which its manufacturers were accused of "engaging in a decades-long scheme to conceal."[5]

By 2020, the US Food and Drug Administration was telling consumers to discard whatever Zantac they still had.[6]

Overview[edit]

Zantac was first marketed in 1981,[7] and it was described in 1989 as "one of the most expensive drugs on the market",[8] and "the world's biggest-selling prescription drug".[9] Addiction to taking it ("a habit") was how some of its users described Zantac.[10] The focus of Glaxo, its manufacturer, was to gain market share "from Zantac competitors like Tagamet."[9] Cimetidine, sold under the brand name Tagamet among others, was listed in 2020 as an alternative to Zantac.[11]

The company also introduced a half-strength[12] Line Extension named Zantac 75.[13]The Los Angeles Times headlined "Public Faces Overdose of Similar Drug Names."[14]

The market for Zantac[15] and its competitors was described in 2005 as 13.5 billion US dollars.[16]

The product's problem was described by The New York Times as being "that a potential cancer-causing contaminant can build up in the drug when stored for long periods."[6] Heavy marketing expenditures resulted in Zantac being consumed by those who might have satisficed with less harmful alternatives.[9] As the potential harmful effects were identified, lawsuits were filed.

Oversight[edit]

By the time of the FDA's 1983 provisional approval for Zantac, it had already been approved for sale in 31 countries.[17] Marketing expenditures were measured by hundreds of millions of dollars.[18][13][19]

The 2019 New York Times headline "Heartburn Drugs Can Lead to Fatal Heart or Kidney Disease"[20] was a herald for Zantac being pulled from store shelves.[1]

Infants and children[edit]

A lower dose version of Zantac[9] had been given to children. A liquid form for ingestion by infants also had been marketed.[6]

Lawsuits[edit]

By 2022, a wave of Class action lawsuits was underway, and illegal robocalls were being made, even to those registered on the Federal Do-Not-Call list regarding settlement options.[citation needed] Also by then, "a wave of recalls" had taken place.[21]

Some of the lawsuits, which by October 2021 included over 100,000 plaintiffs,[5] were filed due to impending statute of limitations laws; estimates of how many people used Zantac have been given as high as 15 million.[citation needed] Facets of the legal rangling included:

  • whether or not certain internal eMails were privileged[22] (and that deleting them was or was not a violation of a judge's orders to preserve them).[23]
  • voluntary withdrawal of products and whether this removed them from oversight.[5]

Related to courtroom action were offers for a cash advance on impending settlements. Another money matter related to lawsuits and impending settlements is market timing.[24]

In June 2023, GSK reached a confidential settlement for one of the lawsuits related to Zantac causing cancer. [25][26]

Zantac pill switching settlements[edit]

In 2008 settlements were reached regarding switching Medicaid patients taking Zantac from capsules to the "more costly" tablet form. [27] [28]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Sandra E. Garcia (September 30, 2019). "Zantac Pulled From Shelves by Walgreens, Rite Aid and CVS Over Carcinogen Fears". The New York Times. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  2. ^ Sanofi Provides Update on Precautionary Voluntary Recall of Zantac OTC in U.S., October 23, 2019
  3. ^ Katie Thomas; Sheila Kaplan (September 13, 2019). "Zantac Has Low Levels of a Cancer-Causing Chemical". The New York Times. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  4. ^ Katie Thomas (October 18, 2019). "Zantac Recall Widens as Sanofi Pulls Its Drug Over Carcinogen Fears". The New York Times. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  5. ^ a b c Nate Raymond (October 7, 2021). "Sanofi, GSK can't escape Zantac proposed class actions, judge rules". Reuters. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  6. ^ a b c Katie Thomas (April 1, 2020). "Zantac Products Should Not Be Sold or Used, F.D.A. Warns, Citing Cancer Danger". The New York Times. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  7. ^ Steve Lohr (March 31, 1986). "Ulcer Drug Succeeds, but GLAXO Won't Relax". The New York Times. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  8. ^ Elsie Dragonetti (June 18, 1989). "The Zantac Saga Includes the Cost". The New York Times. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  9. ^ a b c d Steven Prokesch (October 11, 1989). "Glaxo's Search: Son of Zantac". The New York Times. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  10. ^ "Reader Responses". The New York Times. October 18, 2006.
  11. ^ Christina Caron (April 18, 2020). "Should Pregnant Women Avoid Zantac?". The New York Times. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  12. ^ "No Prescription Needed: Zantac, the ulcer medicine". The Los Angeles Times. December 22, 1995. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  13. ^ a b Stuart Elliott (April 23, 1996). "Madison Avenue girds itself for Z-Day today". The New York Times. Retrieved July 4, 2022. with a budget estimated at $100 million -- for Zantac
  14. ^ "Public Faces Overdose of Similar Drug Names". The Los Angeles Times. November 18, 1994. Quick, what was that prescription your father takes for his ulcer? Zantac? Xanax? Zenate?
  15. ^ "Generic Zantac Marketing Pact". The New York Times. August 5, 1997. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  16. ^ Mary Duenwald (February 22, 2005). "Heartburn Relief, From Aciphex to Zantac". The New York Times. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  17. ^ Barnaby J. Feder (May 7, 1983). "GLAXO says Ulcer Drug has Approval of F.D.A." The New York Times. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  18. ^ Milt Freudenheim (September 8, 1995). "War on Heartburn Heats Up With Over-the-Counter Blitz". The New York Times. Retrieved July 4, 2022. A $200 million-plus marketing battle has started
  19. ^ "RKS;ZANTAC ARRIVES WITH $100 MIL CAMPAIGN". Advertising Age. April 29, 1996.
  20. ^ Nicholas Bakalar (June 11, 2019). "Heartburn Drugs Can Lead to Fatal Heart or Kidney Disease". The New York Times. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  21. ^ Christina Jewett (March 23, 2022). "Pfizer Recalls Some Blood Pressure Drugs, Citing Cancer Risk". The New York Times. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  22. ^ "Sanofi claws back some Zantac emails as privileged". Reuters. July 9, 2021.
  23. ^ Jef Feeley (May 11, 2021). "Sanofi Accused of Destroying Emails Tied to Zantac Recall". Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  24. ^ Anthony Ramirez (November 5, 1995). "INVESTING IT;Will It Please the Court? A Litigation Analyst Calls the Verdicts". The New York Times. Retrieved July 4, 2022. buying the stock when it dips following negative litigation news
  25. ^ "GSK Settles First Zantac Cancer Lawsuit Set for Trial in US". Bloomberg.com. 2023-06-23. Retrieved 2023-07-10.
  26. ^ "GSK settles key Zantac cancer lawsuit". The Times. 2023-07-10. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 2023-07-10.
  27. ^ "Walgreen Settles Suit On Pill-Switch Claims". The Wall Street Journal. June 5, 2008.
  28. ^ "CVS Caremark Reaches Settlement". The Wall Street Journal. March 19, 2008.
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