Valsartan is a popular congestive heart failure and blood pressure medication taken by millions of Americans. It’s sold under brand names Exforge and Diovan. However, in 2018, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that the generic Valsartan sold by pharmaceutical companies contained high levels of the N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) and N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDEA), proven human carcinogens.
This prompted over 1,100 plaintiffs to file Valsartan heart medication lawsuits after developing various types of cancers following prolonged use of the toxic medication. Most of the Valsartan heart medication lawsuits were filed in federal court systems and later consolidated into a class action multidistrict litigation (MDL 2875) in the District of New Jersey.
If you or a loved one were diagnosed with cancer after using Valsartan, you may qualify to file a Valsartan class action lawsuit to recover financial compensation. Valsartan lawsuits are active across the country against various drug manufacturers.
Overview of Valsartan and Health Concerns
Valsartan is an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) used to treat high blood pressure. It’s also commonly prescribed to manage other blood pressure and heart conditions. It’s also used to lower the risk of being hospitalized if you suffer from heart failure. The FDA approved it to:
- Lower hypertension (high blood pressure) in adults and kids aged one year and older, in combination with other medications or alone.
- Reduce the risk of hospitalization due to heart failure among adults
- Increase the odds of living longer after suffering from a heart attack among adults with various types of heart failure.
Valsartan containing drugs are available in various formulations and have been subject to recalls due to contamination. It is a blood pressure-lowering medication, classified as an angiotensin receptor blocker. It relaxes and widens blood vessels, lowering your blood pressure and making it easier for the heart to pump blood around the body.
Valsartan containing medications have been at the center of recent safety concerns.
Common side effects for this medication when used to treat and manage high blood pressure include:
- Dizziness,
- Headache
- Tiredness
- Flu symptoms
- Abdominal pain
When used to treat heart failure, common side effects include:
- Diarrhea
- Dizziness
- Joint and back pain
- Low blood pressure
- Increased potassium levels in the blood
- Tiredness
Common side effects when Valsartan is used to treat people following a heart attack include:
- Cough
- Low blood pressure
- Reduced kidney function
Valsartan can also cause these severe side effects, including:
- Low blood pressure
- Harm or death to unborn babies
- Increased potassium in the blood
- Kidney problems
Contact your doctor as soon as possible for medical advice regarding the above side effects.
The blood pressure medication has also been linked to various cancers, including:
- Prostate
- Stomach/gastric
- Colon/colorectal/rectal
- Liver (liver cancer has been a key focus in ongoing litigation, with cases involving plaintiffs who developed liver cancer after taking contaminated valsartan-containing drugs)
- Intestinal
- Esophageal
- Lung
- Nasal
- Bladder
- Blood
Suppose you or a loved one developed cancer after taking Valsartan. In that case, you may qualify to file a Valsartan claim and recover financial compensation to cover medical costs, lost income, and pain and suffering. Speak with a qualified attorney as soon as possible to learn your legal options.
Valsartan Recall Updates
In 2018, the FDA recalled heart and blood pressure medications containing the active ingredient Valsartan. Valsartan is commonly used in generic and brand-name drugs, such as Exforge, Byvalson, Entresto, Valturna, Prexxartan, Vyduo, and Diovan, to treat and manage heart failure and blood pressure. It was discovered that when the heart medication is manufactured, it may produce toxic impurities known as N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) and N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA), both of which are carcinogenic.
The medications at issue are generic versions of some heart failure and blood pressure drugs. In July 2018, several drug companies began recalling these medications after the FDA discovered that multiple batches of valsartan were contaminated with NDMA. In November 2018, more batches were recalled due to the presence of another poisonous chemical, NDEA. The contamination with NDMA and NDEA in these batches of valsartan has been linked to an increased risk of cancer, leading to widespread recalls and litigation.
Later, in October 2018, pharmaceutical companies recalled additional batches of two other similar drugs, irbesartan and losartan, due to potential contamination with NDEA. More batches of losartan were recalled for containing another toxic chemical, N-nitrosomethylaminobutyric acid (NMBA). These dangerous medications—valsartan, losartan, and irbesartan—belong to the same class of blood pressure drugs and have all been subject to recalls and lawsuits due to contamination with nitrosamines like NDMA and NDEA.
Taking contaminated valsartan poses serious health risks, including the potential for developing cancer after exposure. If you have been taking contaminated valsartan, losartan, or irbesartan, you may be at risk and should be aware of your legal options.
Suppose you have been using one of the recalled Valsartan medications and have developed cancer. In that case, you should contact an experienced personal injury lawyer today to determine if you have a potential Valsartan compensation claim.
Ongoing Valsartan MDL
As of August 30, 2025, 1,349 Valsartan lawsuits are pending in courts, with a total of 1,526 lawsuits filed to date. Currently, there are no known settlements or jury verdicts of any Valsartan lawsuits; however, the first bellwether trial is set for September 2025. This trial is part of a wave of bellwether trials designed to test the strength of claims, with a second wave of bellwether trials scheduled for early 2026. The trial dates are critical in moving the litigation forward and influencing potential settlement negotiations.
The lawsuits claim defendants are responsible for making or selling medications they knew had potential cancer-causing contaminants. Claimants are seeking financial compensation and justice for the injuries they have sustained. The valsartan trial process includes both personal injury claims for those who developed health issues, such as cancer, and class actions for economic loss, consumer economic loss, and medical monitoring. Additionally, a third party payor class has been certified, allowing insurance companies and other entities to seek reimbursement for healthcare costs related to contaminated valsartan.
Valsartan compensation claims have been consolidated into Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) 2875 in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey and remain active. Other medications, including irbesartan and losartan, have been named in the MDL. The court has issued several case management orders to coordinate and advance the litigation, and a special master has been appointed to oversee complex aspects such as discovery, scheduling, and sanctions.
Honorable Judge Renee Bumb currently presides over the litigation, having taken over from Judge Robert Kugler, who was initially overseeing the MDL. Judge Kugler and Judge Bumb have both played key roles in managing the litigation, including scheduling trials, issuing orders, and overseeing settlement negotiations.
On August 22, 2025, the claimants in the national Valsartan compensation litigation requested that the court sanction Zhejiang Huahai Pharmaceuticals for allegedly destroying evidence that the complainants had asked for during the discovery process. Zhejiang Huahai Pharmaceuticals has faced legal scrutiny and sanctions for its role in manufacturing contaminated valsartan. Sanctions like this one vary greatly, and we’ll have to wait to see what the court decides to do.
As of August 15, 2025, key deadlines in Valsartan lawsuits were extended to give both sides time to collect the evidence they required to present their allegations and defenses in the first test trial. Test trials are still proceeding as scheduled, and they may offer vital insights into what claimants and potential claimants can expect moving forward. Ongoing valsartan settlement negotiations are taking place, particularly involving the Hetero defendant, but the scope of these settlements is currently limited.
As of August 1, 2025, 1,349 cases were pending in the Valsartan contamination risk litigation. That represented a slight increase of only seven new cases from July 2025.
In June 2025, the MDL judge changed the schedule for the second wave of bellwether trials, pushing the start of those bellwethers to early 2026. It’s crucial to note that the first bellwether trials remain scheduled for September 2025.
In such litigation proceedings, new cases tend to arise in large numbers. If you have any questions about filing a Valsartan compensation claim, contact a skilled personal injury attorney to make an educated decision about fighting for your legal rights.
Companies Named in Valsartan MDL
Defendants in Valsartan heart medication lawsuits are drug companies involved in the United States’ supply chain for generic drugs, such as Losartan, Valsartan, and irbesartan. Specifically for Valsartan heart failure and blood pressure medications, these companies are categorized into six primary groups:
- Finished dose Valsartan manufacturers: Aurobindo Pharma, Ltd., Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Mylan Pharmaceuticals Co., Torrent Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Actavis LLC, Aurolife Pharma, LLC, and Priston Pharmaceutical Inc.
- Valsartan API manufacturers: Huahai U.S., Inc., Hetero Drugs Ltd., Hetero Labs, Ltd., Aurobindo Pharma, Ltd., Mylan Laboratories, Ltd., Zhejiang Huahai Pharmaceutical Co., and Hetero USA Inc.
- Wholesalers: Cardinal Health, Inc., AmerisourceBergen Corporation (now Cencora, Inc.), and McKesson Co.
- Finished Dose Distributors: Solco Healthcare U.S., LLC; Torrent Pharma, Inc.; Aurobindo Pharma USA; and Camber Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Who Can File a Valsartan Lawsuit
If you used Valsartan or a combination drug medicine that had Valsartan and later developed cancer, you may qualify to file a Valsartan compensation claim. A qualified Valsartan attorney can determine your eligibility and examine any valuable evidence you may have, including tests for toxic contamination, doctors’ records, prescription bottles, and prescription receipts.
The eligibility criteria for Valsartan lawsuits include:
- You must have used one or more of these heart medications: Valsartan + HCTZ, Valsartan, Valsartan + HCTZ + amlodipine, Valsartan + amlodipine.
- You must have used Valsartan for 6 months before your cancer diagnosis
- You must have used Valsartan for a minimum of 6 months between 2015 and 2018.
It’s crucial to note that an individual state’s statute of limitations will also apply. That means there’s a strict timeline within which you must file your product liability lawsuit. Statutes of limitations vary from state to state. Your attorney will examine your claim and ensure you file your lawsuit within the stipulated timeframe.
Potential Outcomes and Compensation in the Valsartan Class Action Lawsuit
Currently, no Valsartan cancer case has been settled or gone to trial. Thus, it’s difficult to tell precisely how much these lawsuits will be worth.
However, based on average settlement payouts in other mass tort lawsuits involving similar cancers and previous mass tort settlements, we can make reasonable estimations.
Based on past similar lawsuits, we project that Valsartan cancer lawsuits in the top tier might be worth between $200,000 and $400,000.
The Valsartan compensation claims in the top settlement tier are those involving severe types of cancer with minimal survival rates, including stomach and pancreatic cancer.
Valsartan cancer lawsuits involving survivable cancers, including colon and kidney cancers, might be worth $70,000 to $150,000.
Thus, if you were affected by contaminated generic Valsartan, you might qualify to file a claim against one of the heart medication’s manufacturers. Possible settlement amounts for these lawsuits will depend on various factors, including:
- The severity of your condition: A cancer diagnosis related to Valsartan contamination can result in a higher settlement amount than one associated with a less-severe diagnosis.
- Medical costs: If you have missed work because of your health condition, you might be entitled to compensation for lost income.
- Evidence: Strong, comprehensive evidence, including expert testimonies, medical records, and other records, can strengthen your claims, boosting your chances of recovering a higher settlement amount.
- Pain and suffering: Your emotional and physical pain and suffering resulting from the Valsartan contamination risk will also impact the amount of compensation you receive.
- Experienced personal injury lawyer: An experienced attorney who can effectively negotiate with the pharmaceutical companies’ defense team can maximize your potential compensation.
It’s imperative to note that the specific factors influencing your potential compensation will vary based on individual situation and the pending legal proceedings.
Staying Updated on Valsartan Lawsuit News
The Valsartan compensation lawsuits are based on evidence that various batches of the blood pressure drug were contaminated with cancer-causing chemicals.
In July 2018, both the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the FDA issued voluntary recalls of several medications containing Valsartan because of the presence of NDMA and other cancer-causing chemicals in those medications.
Long-term exposure to NDEA and NDMA has been associated with various types of cancers, including esophageal, colorectal, liver, pancreatic, prostate, intestinal, stomach, and even blood cancer.
Those recalls and cancer diagnoses led thousands of individuals across the country to file lawsuits against the Valsartan manufacturers responsible for supplying consumers with contaminated medications.
If you have been affected by Valsartan recalls or have been diagnosed with cancer after taking this dangerous drug, it’s imperative to stay informed about the Valsartan compensation litigation. Consulting with experienced medical and legal professionals is also crucial. To get Valsartan legal updates, check reputable law firm sites specializing in Valsartan mass tort lawsuits. Additionally, consult the FDA for recall updates and check legal news outlets to stay informed about Valsartan lawsuit developments.
Key recent Valsartan lawsuit updates include the first round of bellwether trials, which are scheduled for September 2025. These test trials will use specific cases to test allegations and defenses in the Valsartan class action litigation, which arises from the contamination of the medication with NDMA, a human carcinogen, causing recalls and cancer diagnoses.
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