Overview
Thousands of people filed lawsuits claiming that Zantac, a heartburn medication containing ranitidine, caused them to develop cancer. The litigation has moved through both federal and state courts since 2019. This page walks through the key events in the order they occurred and explains where the cases stand today.
The FDA Warning
The FDA first warned the public in 2019 about a probable carcinogen, NDMA, found in Zantac (ranitidine). The drug later sold as Zantac 360 uses a different ingredient.[1]
This warning set off a wave of lawsuits by people who said they took Zantac or generic ranitidine and later developed cancer. The lawsuits allege that the manufacturers knew or should have known about the contamination risk. No court has ruled that these allegations are true.
Federal MDL Dismissal in December 2022
Many of the federal cases were consolidated into a multidistrict litigation, or MDL, in the Southern District of Florida. An MDL is a procedure that groups similar cases before one judge to handle pretrial matters efficiently. The Zantac federal MDL was assigned case number 2924 and overseen by Judge Robin L. Rosenberg.[2]
In December 2022, Judge Rosenberg excluded the plaintiffs' cancer experts and dismissed the MDL cases. When a judge excludes expert testimony, it means the court has decided that the science or methodology behind the expert opinions does not meet legal standards for reliability. Without expert testimony to support the claim that ranitidine caused cancer, the plaintiffs could not proceed. Plaintiffs appealed to the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals.[2]
State Court Settlement in October 2024
While the federal appeal was pending, GSK, one of the manufacturers, reached a settlement in state court cases. In October 2024, GSK agreed to pay up to $2.2 billion to resolve about 80,000 state court Zantac cases, about 93 percent of its state court docket, without admitting wrongdoing.[1]
This settlement covered only state court cases and did not resolve the federal MDL or cases in every state. The settlement also did not include an admission by GSK that Zantac caused cancer.
Delaware Supreme Court Ruling in July 2025
In July 2025, the Delaware Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision that affected cases pending in Delaware state courts. The court reversed a lower court ruling that had allowed plaintiffs' cancer experts in the Delaware Zantac cases, requiring stricter review of the science.[3]
This ruling meant that Delaware courts would apply a more rigorous standard when deciding whether expert testimony about cancer causation was reliable enough to be heard by a jury. The decision sent the cases back to the lower court for reconsideration under this stricter standard.
Federal MDL Appeal Argument in October 2025
In October 2025, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals heard oral argument on the appeal of the federal MDL dismissal.[2]
Oral argument is the stage where lawyers for both sides present their positions to the appeals court and answer questions from the judges. The court had not issued a decision as of the most recent event in the record.
Delaware Superior Court Dismissal in April 2026
In April 2026, a Delaware Superior Court judge threw out the remaining Delaware Zantac cases, finding plaintiffs could not meet Delaware's standard for proving cancer causation. The federal appeal was still pending at that time.[4]
This ruling came after the Delaware Supreme Court had required stricter review of the science. The Superior Court judge concluded that even under any standard, the plaintiffs' evidence was not sufficient to show that ranitidine caused their cancers.
Where Things Stand Today
As of April 2026, the most recent event in the record, the federal MDL appeal to the Eleventh Circuit remains pending. The court heard oral argument in October 2025 but has not issued a ruling.[2]
The Delaware state court cases have been dismissed.[4] GSK settled a large portion of state court cases in other jurisdictions in 2024.[1]
The record we track does not show a trial date set in the federal MDL or any remaining state court cases. The record does not show whether other manufacturers have reached settlements or whether cases remain pending in other state courts.
What Is Not Known Yet
The Eleventh Circuit has not yet ruled on whether the federal MDL dismissal was correct. That decision will determine whether thousands of federal cases can proceed or remain dismissed.
The record we track does not show how many cases remain pending in state courts outside of Delaware, whether any trials are scheduled, or whether other defendants besides GSK have reached settlements. The record also does not show whether any plaintiffs have filed new cases since the April 2026 Delaware ruling.
Sources
- FDA (2019-09-01). Secondary report: healthexec.com
- MDL No. 2924 (S.D. Fla.) (2022-12-01). Secondary report: verusllc.com
- In re Zantac (Ranitidine) Litig., No. 255, 2024 (Del.) (2025-07-10). Secondary report: tavrn.ai
- In re Zantac Litigation, No. N22C-09-101 ZAN (Del. Super.) (2026-04-16). Secondary report: insurancejournal.com
Litigation facts on this page come from the TortIntel litigation record and the documents linked above. Last checked against that record on 2026-10-24. If you see an error, tell us and we will correct it.