Sanofi to pull heartburn drug Zantac in US, Canada

Packages of Zantac, a popular medication which decreases stomach acid production and prevents heartburn, sit on a shelf at a drugstore on September 19, 2019 in New York City.

Drew Angerer | Getty Images

Sanofi SA said on Friday it would recall popular heartburn drug Zantac in the United States and Canada, the latest drugmaker to pull the medicine, which has been linked with a probable cancer-causing impurity.

The French drugmaker said the recall was a precautionary measure taken due to the possible contamination of the drugs with a substance called N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA).

Sanofi added that it was working with health authorities to determine the level and extent of the recall.

Zantac, whose generic versions are known chemically as ranitidine, is the latest drug in which cancer-causing impurities have been found. Regulators have recalled some blood pressure and heart failure medicines since last year.

Sanofi follows Teva Pharmaceutical and GlaxoSmithKline as well as major drug retailers in recalling the products from market.

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