Valsartan, Losartan, and Irbesartan Cancer Lawsuits
Was Your Cancer Caused by Contaminated Blood Pressure Drugs?
If you or a loved one developed cancer after taking Valsartan, Losartan, or Irbesartan, you’ve been betrayed by the very companies you trusted to protect your health. For years, drug manufacturers sold contaminated blood pressure medications containing NDMA, a powerful cancer-causing chemical, and they knew about the risks.
At Ankin Law, we don’t back down from pharmaceutical giants. When corporations put profits over people, we make it personal. Our Chicago mass tort lawyers fight to uncover the truth, expose corporate negligence, and recover maximum compensation for the victims these companies tried to silence.
Call (312) 600-0000 to schedule a free consultation.
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Quick Answers: Valsartan, Losartan, and Irbesartan Lawsuits
What Is the Blood Pressure Medicine Lawsuit About?
The Valsartan, Losartan, and Irbesartan lawsuits involve claims from over 1,300 individuals who developed cancer after taking contaminated blood pressure medications. Between 2012 and 2018, multiple generic versions of Valsartan, Losartan, and Irbesartan were contaminated with cancer-causing chemicals called NDMA and NDEA. The FDA recalled hundreds of batches of these medications starting in 2018. Plaintiffs allege that pharmaceutical manufacturers failed to properly test their products or warn patients and healthcare providers about the cancer risks. As of November 2025, all federal cases are consolidated in multidistrict litigation (MDL No. 2875) in New Jersey.
Who Can File a Valsartan, Losartan, or Irbesartan Lawsuit?
People who took recalled versions of Valsartan, Losartan, or Irbesartan and subsequently developed cancer (including liver, stomach, colorectal, kidney, bladder, pancreatic, esophageal, lung, prostate, and certain blood cancers) may be eligible to file a lawsuit. Families may bring wrongful death claims. You’ll need pharmacy proof of a recalled batch and medical documentation supporting causation.
How Do I File a Contaminated Drug Lawsuit?
To file a lawsuit related to Valsartan, Losartan, or Irbesartan contamination, your attorney will file in federal court or in state court depending on your specific circumstances. In Illinois, you generally have two years from the date of your cancer diagnosis to file a lawsuit. An experienced mass tort lawyer can help determine whether you took a recalled batch, gather medical evidence linking your cancer to the contamination, and preserve your right to compensation.
What Compensation Is Available?
Recoverable damages in Valsartan, Losartan, and Irbesartan lawsuits may include medical expenses, lost wages/earning capacity, pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of normal life, and for deaths, funeral costs and loss of companionship. Punitive damages may apply for egregious misconduct. Recovery depends on cancer type and stage, treatment, prognosis, and life impact.
What Are Valsartan, Losartan, and Irbesartan?
Valsartan, Losartan, and Irbesartan are angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) used for hypertension and heart failure. Valsartan (brand Diovan) was FDA-approved in 1996. Generics followed in 2012. Millions rely on these drugs to protect their hearts; not to be exposed to carcinogens.
The Contamination Crisis
In July 2018, the FDA announced the first recalls of Valsartan after discovering that certain batches manufactured by Zhejiang Huahai Pharmaceutical contained NDMA, a probable human carcinogen. Subsequent testing revealed additional contamination with NDEA and NMBA, other cancer-causing chemicals.
The contamination occurred during the manufacturing process. When pharmaceutical companies changed their production methods, they inadvertently created conditions that allowed these dangerous impurities to form. The contaminated medications were distributed to patients for years before the problem was discovered.
By October 2018, recalls expanded to include Losartan and Irbesartan manufactured by multiple companies. The FDA maintains a searchable database of recalled ARB medications, which has been updated numerous times as additional contaminated batches were identified.
Dangerous Levels of Carcinogens
NDMA and NDEA are classified as probable human carcinogens by international health organizations. While these chemicals exist naturally in very small amounts in certain foods and water, the levels found in contaminated Valsartan, Losartan, and Irbesartan tablets far exceeded safe limits.
According to the FDA, humans can safely consume up to 0.096 micrograms of NDMA per day. However, the recalled blood pressure medications contained anywhere from 3 to 177 times the safe daily limit. Patients taking these medications daily were exposed to dangerous levels of carcinogens for months or even years.
Reported diagnoses include: liver (HCC), stomach (gastric), colorectal, kidney (RCC), bladder, pancreatic, esophageal, lung, prostate, and blood cancers (e.g., leukemia, multiple myeloma). European cohort studies have associated NDMA-contaminated Valsartan with increased gastric and liver cancer risk.
Bottom line: if you took a recalled lot and later developed cancer, you should be evaluated for a claim.
Center:
Injured by a medical provider? Check out our medical malpractice knowledge center to learn more about medical malpractice cases.
What You Need to Know About Valsartan, Losartan, and Irbesartan Lawsuits
What happened wasn’t an accident. It was the result of negligence, corner-cutting, and a total disregard for human safety. The truth is finally catching up to them.
Current Status of the Litigation
As of November 2025, more than 1,340 lawsuits have been consolidated into MDL No. 2875, formally known as In re: Valsartan, Losartan, and Irbesartan Products Liability Litigation, pending in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey. The MDL streamlines common discovery and expert issues. Each plaintiff’s injury and damages remain individual.
Bellwether Trials and Settlement Progress
The first bellwether was set for September 2025 with additional waves to follow. The court pushed parties toward partial settlements (e.g., Hetero Labs) while litigation continues against major defendants (Zhejiang Huahai, Mylan, Torrent, Teva, and others). Some Losartan settlement talks have stalled, but discovery, expert work, and trial prep are ongoing.
Significant Court Rulings
- Sanctions against ZHP: For discovery violations; juries may draw adverse inferences, and ZHP must pay attorneys’ fees—putting it at a disadvantage at trial.
- Experts allowed (Dec. 2022): Plaintiffs’ causation experts survived exclusion attempts.
- Class certification (Dec. 2023): Consumer Economic Loss, Medical Monitoring, and Third-Party Payor classes certified.
Can Illinois Residents File Lawsuits?
Yes. Illinois claims may be filed and transferred to the MDL or pursued in Illinois state court, depending on strategy. Act quickly. Illinois generally provides two years from diagnosis/discovery. Missing deadlines can bar recovery.
Who Is Getting Sued?
Lawsuits target multiple parties in the pharmaceutical supply chain, including:
- Manufacturers: Zhejiang Huahai Pharmaceutical (China), Hetero Labs Limited (India), Mylan Pharmaceuticals, Torrent Pharmaceuticals, Aurobindo Pharma, and others who produced contaminated medications
- Distributors: Teva Pharmaceuticals, Solco Healthcare, and other companies that distributed contaminated drugs to pharmacies
- Pharmacies: In some cases, pharmacies that filled prescriptions with recalled medications
The specific defendants in each case depend on which manufacturer produced the contaminated medication and which companies were involved in getting it to the patient.
Why Choose Ankin Law for Your Contaminated Drug Lawsuit?
When you’re up against billion-dollar drug companies, you need trial-ready lawyers with resources and grit.
Experienced Product Liability Lawyers
Our product liability lawyers stay on top of MDL orders, science, and settlement posture, and we work with credentialed medical and regulatory experts to prove causation and damages.
Comprehensive Case Investigation
Every contaminated drug case requires detailed investigation to establish key facts:
- Pharmacy records: Documenting which specific medication you took and when
- Recall verification: Confirming whether the batch you received was contaminated
- Medical records: Establishing your cancer diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis
- Manufacturing evidence: Identifying which company produced your medication
- Scientific evidence: Linking NDMA/NDEA exposure to your specific type of cancer
Our legal team handles all aspects of this investigation, working with medical professionals, pharmacy records departments, and industry experts to build the strongest possible case.
Personalized Attention to Your Case
We tailor strategy, keep you informed about offers, rulings, and timelines, and prepare you for each step.
No Fees Unless We Win
Ankin Law handles Valsartan, Losartan, and Irbesartan contamination cases on a contingency fee basis. You pay no upfront costs or attorney fees. We advance all case expenses, including expert witness fees, medical record retrieval, deposition costs, and court filing fees. You pay nothing unless we recover for you.
What Happens When You Contact Ankin Law
- Free consult to review your medication history and diagnosis
- Pharmacy record pull and recall cross-check
- Eligibility analysis based on cancer type, timing, and evidence
- Evidence build-out (medical, pathology, expert opinions)
- Filing (join MDL 2875 or pursue an Illinois action)
- Relentless representation through discovery, negotiation, and trial
Frequently Asked Questions About Contaminated Drug Lawsuits
How do I know if I took contaminated ARBs?
We obtain pharmacy records (with manufacturer/NDC) and compare them to FDA recall lists. Not every ARB was contaminated. Specific lots were.
Can I still file if I took the drugs years ago?
Often, yes. Cancer can develop years after exposure. Many claims arise from 2012 to 2018 use. Limitations usually run from when you learned or should have learned of the link, not the first dose.
What if I’m still in treatment?
You can file during active treatment. Doing so helps document ongoing costs, complications, and impacts, and protects deadlines.
Do I need to prove the manufacturer?
Yes. Liability turns on which company made your pills. Your pharmacy records and NDC identify the correct defendants.
What if I don’t have cancer but was exposed?
You may qualify for the Medical Monitoring class (screening paid by defendants). Personal injury compensation requires a cancer diagnosis.
Will a lawsuit affect my care?
No. Your doctors control treatment. The case seeks financial accountability for harm already done
Evidence fades. Deadlines run. With bellwethers underway and negotiations evolving, now is the time to evaluate your options.
Call (312) 600-0000 to schedule a free, confidential consultation with Ankin Law. We’ll verify recalled medication, assess your claim, and fight for the compensation you deserve. No fees unless we win.