GSK to Pay $2.2B to Settle Zantac Cancer Lawsuits

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Oct 10, 2024

Above: GlaxoSmithKline (GSk) headquarters in London. Image copyright: Justin Tallis/Contributor/AFP via Getty Imagesstory last updated Oct 12

The Facts

British pharmaceutical giant GSK has agreed to pay up to $2.2B to settle most pending US state court lawsuits that claim its now-discontinued heartburn drug Zantac causes cancer.
Though the drugmaker struck the settlement earlier than expected, it denied any wrongdoing, stating there was "no consistent or reliable evidence" that Zantac could degrade into a carcinogen.

The Spin

Narrative A

GSK's decision to settle these cases simply avoids the distraction of protracted litigation. As there is no scientific evidence backing claims of consumer harm from Zantac, the company will continue defending itself in all other Zantac cases based on facts and science.

GSK

Narrative B

GSK wouldn't be paying such enormous settlements if it wasn't hiding something. In fact, investigations have now shown the company was aware of Zantac's link to cancer as far back as the early 1980s, meaning GSK is liable for decades worth of unnecessary cancer diagnoses.

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Cynical narrative

The vast majority of US health regulators have conflicts of interest with the food and pharmaceutical industries, which is why they promote these billion-dollar drugs rather than talk about underlying causes. For example, gastric reflux, which causes heartburn, could be prevented by simply walking a few thousand steps a day. The US government and its friends in big business are the main causes of American health problems.