Forbes

The settlement includes three "bellwether" breast cancer cases in California, resulting in GSK's dismissal from these cases and related pre-trial hearings, though the company maintains this is not an admission of liability.

Reuters

Zantac, originally developed by Glaxo Holdings in the 1980s, became a blockbuster drug, topping $1 billion in annual sales and was later marketed by other pharmaceutical companies including Haleon, Sanofi, and Pfizer.

In 2019, health regulators investigated Zantac over concerns it contained NDMA, a probable carcinogen, leading to voluntary market withdrawals and an FDA order in 2020 to pull all ranitidine drugs from the market.

The Zantac litigation has had significant financial implications, with pharmaceutical companies losing $30 billion in market capitalization last year due to growing concerns over potential liabilities.

Despite settling these cases, GSK still faces approximately 79,000 Zantac-related lawsuits, with the majority (73,000) in Delaware, which is considered a less challenging jurisdiction for large companies compared to California.

Drugmaker GSK settles California lawsuit on Zantac

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The settlements indicate GSK's awareness of potential liability. The FDA's findings that Zantac produces NDMA over time, which can cause cancer in large quantities, support the plaintiffs' claims. The massive number of pending lawsuits suggests widespread concern about the drug's safety.

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GSK Settles Zantac Cancer Lawsuits, Avoids Trial

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GSK Settles Zantac Cancer Lawsuits, Avoids Trial

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