- Did you take Nexium or Prilosec long-term?
- Have you been diagnosed with stomach cancer?
- You may be entitled to compensation.
Nexium and Prilosec have been linked to the development of stomach cancer. Pendley, Baudin & Coffin offers direct representation and deep experience litigating against pharmaceutical manufacturers, and has recovered over a billion dollars from Big Pharma. Our case experts are available 24/7 to help. You may be eligible for legal representation, and we’re here to fight for the compensation you deserve.
Understanding PPIs and the Increased Cancer Risk
Nexium (esomeprazole) and Prilosec (omeprazole) are proton pump inhibitors, or PPIs, available over the counter or by prescription. They work by blocking the enzyme that regulates acid production in your stomach, and are commonly used to treat acid reflux (GERD), duodenal or stomach ulcers, H. pylori, and erosive esophagitis. PPIs are among the most commonly prescribed medications in the U.S., taken regularly by more than 15 million Americans.
Studies show that regular, long-term use of PPIs may be connected to a nearly 250% increased risk of stomach cancer. That risk rises with higher doses and longer treatment periods, climbing further the longer someone stays on the drug. While PPIs are considered safe for short-term use, long-term use has been associated with serious harm, including stomach cancer.
How PPIs May Cause Stomach Cancer
When PPIs suppress stomach acid over a long period, the body responds by producing more of a hormone called gastrin. Sustained high gastrin levels can overstimulate certain stomach cells, causing them to multiply, and researchers believe that over time this process may drive cancerous changes.
Long-term use can also make it harder to stop taking these drugs. When a patient stops, acid production can surge back above normal, a rebound effect that brings the original symptoms back even stronger. Some recent lawsuits allege this creates a “dependence loop” that keeps patients on the drug for years longer than intended, which is exactly the kind of long-term use researchers have linked to higher cancer risk.
Primary Legal Concern
Lawsuits allege that the manufacturers of Nexium and Prilosec knew, or should have known, of the gastric cancer risk for years, based on animal studies, case reports, and published research, and failed to adequately warn doctors and patients. Specific allegations include:
- The drug labels never warned that long-term use may be associated with developing stomach cancer
- The labels failed to warn about rebound acid hypersecretion, the rebound surge in stomach acid that can trap patients in long-term use
- Manufacturers continued marketing these drugs for long-term use without disclosing what they knew about the risk
We’re bringing this case to court and fighting for justice for our clients. This is no simple product defect. This was negligence of the highest order, putting families at risk. These companies need to be held accountable for the harm they have caused.
Medical Research on PPIs and Stomach Cancer
- Cheung KS, et al. “Long-term proton pump inhibitors and risk of gastric cancer development after treatment for Helicobacter pylori: a population-based study.” Gut, 2018. Followed more than 60,000 patients and found daily PPI use was associated with up to an 8-fold increase in gastric cancer risk after 3+ years of use. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6322623/
- Abbas MK, et al. “The Safety of Long-term Daily Usage of a Proton Pump Inhibitor: A Literature Review.” Cureus, 2019. Reviews the two largest population studies on PPI use and gastric cancer risk (Cheung et al. and Brusselaers et al., combined 860,000+ patients). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6728776/
