Massive Zantac Product Liability Litigation Advances After Initial Settlements

GlaxoSmithKline will continue to defend itself against all claims alleging ranitidine increased the risk of cancer. Four generic firms reach settlements in the first case that had been scheduled for trial. GSK, Sanofi and Pfizer could pay $1bn-$2bn each in potential settlements, an analyst predicts.

Zantac
The first trial in the Zantac product liability litigation is set to begin this month • Source: Shutterstock

The settlements by four generic manufacturers in a single Zantac (ranitidine) product liability case gives some sense of what global resolutions might entail. However, brand companies may opt to go to trial rather than settle, as GlaxoSmithKline plc has indicated.

The first trial in the Zantac litigation had been scheduled to begin 22 August in Illinois state court. Counsel for the plaintiff, Joseph Bayer, told the court on 15 August that he would file a notice of voluntary dismissal. The following day, Bloomberg reported that Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Perrigo Company PLC, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. and Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Inc

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