New Class Action Says Zantac Makers Failed to Warn of Carcinogen Dangers

CHICAGO — An Illinois woman has filed a class action against the makers of Zantac, accusing them of failing to warn consumers that the over-the-counter heartburn drug contains dangerously high levels of N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), a carcinogen.

Named as defendants in the Jan. 21 complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, are Sanofi-Aventis U.S. LLC, Sanofi US Services Inc., and Sanofi subsidiary Chattem Inc.

Zantac, a histamine-2 blocker, is approved to prevent and relieve heartburn associated with acid ingestion and sour stomach. GSK developed the drug in 1983, and it was approved for …