Chicago Jury Rejects 89-Year-Old's $640 Million Claim That Zantac Caused Cancer in First Trial

May 23, 2024, 05:10 PM

A jury in Chicago has rejected an Illinois woman's claim that the now-discontinued heartburn drug Zantac caused her colon cancer. The trial, which involved GlaxoSmithKline and Boehringer Ingelheim, was the first of thousands of lawsuits making similar allegations. The plaintiff, an 89-year-old woman from Brookfield, alleged that Zantac caused her colon cancer and sought $640 million in damages. The jury, composed of nine women and three men, deliberated over the case. Lawyers for the pharmaceutical companies argued that no credible evidence linked Zantac to cancer, and the jury ultimately sided with the defense. The woman also claimed debilitating symptoms as part of her case.