Quick Hits: FDA Says Zantac Doesn’t Form Carcinogens in Patients

A recent NBC News article discussed the latest in its investigation into possible contaminants found in the popular heartburn drug Zantac. Tests conducted by the FDA found that the drug does not cause carcinogens to form in patients. The director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research noted that the levels of NDMA are equivalent to what you might be exposed to while eating common foods like grilled or smoked meats. However, some versions of ranitidine (the generic form of Zantac) contained as much as nine times the acceptable limit for NDMA.

The FDA’s tests simulated how the drug reacts in a person’s stomach and small intestines. The next step is testing the drugs in human patients to fully understand the relationship with NDMA.