What the Lawsuits Allege
Valsartan is a widely used generic blood-pressure and heart medication. Starting in 2018, regulators found that valsartan from certain manufacturers was contaminated with nitrosamines — chiefly NDMA, a probable human carcinogen — that formed during manufacturing, prompting large recalls. Lawsuits allege that patients who took the contaminated pills for years developed cancers such as liver, kidney and stomach cancer, and that the makers should have caught and disclosed the contamination.
Because the contamination is documented through the recalls, the fight centers on causation and on which manufacturers’ product a given patient took.
The MDL Status
The federal cases are consolidated in multidistrict litigation (MDL 2875) in the District of New Jersey, with well over a thousand cases pending. One smaller defendant, Hetero, reached a settlement, and the court has moved toward bellwether trials to test the causation evidence and set expectations for the remaining cases. No global settlement among the major defendants had been reached as this was written.
Bellwether outcomes will be pivotal in a case where the science of dose, duration and cancer type is heavily contested.
What Patients Should Know
If you took recalled valsartan and later developed one of the associated cancers, the evidence is your pharmacy records (identifying the manufacturer and dates) and your medical records. This is legal-news coverage, not medical advice — do not stop a prescribed medication without talking to your doctor. There is no global settlement fund yet.
Before You Act
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Valsartan Lawsuit: The NDMA Cancer Claims and MDL: Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the most common questions about this case and your legal options.
Why was valsartan recalled?
Regulators found valsartan from certain manufacturers was contaminated with NDMA, a probable human carcinogen formed during manufacturing, prompting large recalls starting in 2018.
What cancers are alleged in the valsartan lawsuits?
Cancers including liver, kidney and stomach cancer, allegedly from long-term use of NDMA-contaminated pills. Causation is the central contested issue.
Is there a valsartan settlement?
One smaller defendant (Hetero) settled, but no global settlement among the major defendants had been reached. The MDL is moving toward bellwether trials.
Legal Disclaimer
This article is general legal information, not legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Case status, eligibility criteria, and any amounts described are as reported at the date shown and may change. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction about your own situation.