Zantac’s cancer risks were kept hidden for decades

Feb 15, 2023

Karah Rucker Anchor/Reporter

By Karah Rucker (Anchor/Reporter), Stacey Chamberlain (Producer/Editor)

A popular drug once used to treat heartburn was taken off the shelves due to potential cancer risks in 2020. Zantac was found to have contained high levels of carcinogens which are linked to increased cancer risks.

Court filings reviewed by Bloomberg indicate the company that owned Zantac was told decades prior to its discontinuation that there were dangerous side effects to the drug. The company never disclosed those warnings to consumers.

The FDA gave Zantac the green light in 1978. According to Bloomberg, from the very beginning stages of Zantac’s development, the company’s scientists and researchers warned of potential cancer risks linked to the heartburn medication. The warnings were ignored and not disclosed.

More than 70,000 people who took Zantac are suing. The first of those trials will likely begin this summer.

Tags: Cancer, FDA

KARAH RUCKER: A POPULAR DRUG ONCE USED TO TREAT HEARTBURN WAS TAKEN OFF THE SHELVES DUE TO POTENTIAL CANCER RISKS IN 2020. ZANTAC WAS FOUND TO HAVE CONTAINED HIGH LEVELS OF CARCINOGENS – WHICH ARE LINKED TO INCREASED CANCER RISKS.

BUT COURT FILINGS REVIEWED BY BLOOMBERG INDICATE THE COMPANY THAT OWNED ZANTAC WAS TOLD DECADES PRIOR TO ITS DISCONTINUATION THAT THERE WERE DANGEROUS SIDE EFFECTS TO THE DRUG. YET THE COMPANY NEVER DISCLOSED THOSE WARNINGS TO CONSUMERS.

THE FDA GAVE ZANTAC THE GREEN LIGHT IN 1978. BUT ACCORDING TO BLOOMBERG – FROM THE VERY BEGINNING STAGES OF ZANTAC’S DEVELOPMENT – THE COMPANY’S OWN SCIENTISTS AND RESEARCHERS WARNED OF POTENTIAL CANCER RISKS LINKED TO THE HEARTBURN MEDICATION AND THE WARNINGS WERE IGNORED AND NOT DISCLOSED.

MORE THAN 70 THOUSAND PEOPLE WHO TOOK ZANTAC ARE SUING. THE FIRST OF THOSE TRIALS LIKELY TO BEGIN THIS SUMMER.