Generic Zantac Makers Again Win Negligence Claim Dismissal

An Illinois appellate court upheld the dismissal of negligence and liability claims against manufacturers of generic Zantac, affirming a lower court’s ruling that the liability counts were pre-empted by federal law.

The liability claims were based on allegedly inadequate labeling of the generic form of the heartburn drug, known as ranitidine, Friday’s order notes, but it would’ve been impossible for the generic manufacturers to change their labeling because federal law requires the labels and design of generic and name-brand drugs to be the same.

“Plaintiff cannot avoid preemption here merely by arguing that the generic ranitidine was misbranded under federal ...