Zantac, Generic Antacid Makers Get Claims Cut From Cancer Suits

Sanofi-Aventis U.S. LLC, Apotex Corp., and others targeted in litigation alleging popular antacids contained unsafe levels of a carcinogen got claims narrowed following several opinions by the Florida federal court overseeing multidistrict litigation.

Plaintiffs allege ranitidine, the active ingredient in Zantac and its generic equivalents, is unstable and breaks down into NDMA, a probable human carcinogen. Hundreds of personal injury suits alleging years of antacid use caused cancer, and proposed class suits seeking refunds, are proceeding in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.

Federal drug labeling law bars design defect and failure-to-warn claims against generic ...