How to Build a Valsartan Cancer Lawsuit After a Recalled Batch

What a Valsartan Lawyer Needs to Prove Batch ID and NDMA Exposure

The medications people take every day are supposed to prevent life-threatening illness — not cause it. But that’s exactly what happened when NDMA-contaminated Valsartan remained on pharmacy shelves for years.

The people most loyal to their prescriptions — those who took them faithfully, day after day — are now the most at risk. And proving that link between daily use and devastating illness is an uphill battle.

At the Ferrell Law Group, our national Valsartan attorneys understand the devastating impact a dangerous drug or defective product can have on victims and their loved ones. Long-term exposure to contaminated Valsartan has been linked to multiple cancers, including:

Liver cancer
Stomach cancer
Colorectal cancer
Bladder cancer
Pancreatic cancer
Esophageal cancer
Intestinal cancer
Certain blood cancers
Prostate cancer
Other health risks, including liver disease, kidney damage, and gastrointestinal problems

What is Valsartan?

For years, millions of Americans trusted Valsartan to manage their blood pressure and heart conditions. But in 2018, the FDA issued a sweeping recall after discovering that many batches of the medication were contaminated with NDMA, a probable human carcinogen. Patients who took Valsartan never expected to face a cancer diagnosis because of a prescription drug. Yet for many, that became a devastating reality.

Now, victims are coming forward in growing numbers to seek justice. But proving that contaminated Valsartan caused their cancer isn’t easy. While the science is clear, the legal burden of proof is not. The legal process requires meticulous documentation, scientific evidence, and expert analysis. A qualified Valsartan cancer lawyer can be the difference between a dismissed claim and a meaningful recovery.

Why Proving Causation Is the Hardest Part

NDMA (N-nitrosodimethylamine) is a chemical compound classified by the World Health Organization as a probable human carcinogen. It can form during industrial processes, particularly when solvents and chemical reactions aren’t carefully controlled. In the case of Valsartan, NDMA contamination was traced back to manufacturing changes at overseas pharmaceutical plants, particularly in China and India.

FDA investigations revealed that several generic manufacturers cut corners in the production process. Poor quality controls, lack of oversight, and changes to solvent usage allowed NDMA to form in the final drug product. The contamination wasn’t discovered until years later, after patients had already been exposed.

Linking a cancer diagnosis to a contaminated medication is one of the most challenging aspects of any product liability claim. Plaintiffs must not only prove they took Valsartan from a recalled lot but also show that their cancer likely resulted from NDMA exposure.

That requires a careful timeline:

When the patient began taking Valsartan.
When they were diagnosed with cancer.
How long the exposure lasted.

This must align with the known latency periods for NDMA-related cancers such as liver cancer, colorectal cancer, stomach cancer, and kidney cancer.

Differential diagnosis is also key. Medical experts must rule out other potential causes of the cancer, such as smoking, genetics, or occupational exposures, to support the conclusion that NDMA-contaminated Valsartan was the most likely source. This is often where unrepresented claimants struggle. Without legal support, causation arguments are easily dismissed by the defense.

Batch Identification and Recalled Lots

Not all Valsartan products were contaminated. Only specific lots manufactured by certain companies were affected. That means it’s not enough to say someone took Valsartan. A strong claim must show that the patient ingested pills from one or more of the recalled batches.

This step often requires:

Pharmacy Records: Proof of the dates and details of the prescriptions filled.
Drug Packaging: Bottles, labels, or photos that display the manufacturer's name or lot number.
Manufacturer Identification: The FDA recall lists dozens of affected National Drug Codes (NDCs) tied to generic manufacturers like:
- Solco Healthcare, Zhejiang Huahai (China).
- Major Pharmaceuticals.
- Teva Pharmaceuticals.
- Or other implicated companies.

Many pharmacies do not retain records for more than a certain period, making it difficult to track this information down. But it is essential. Without proof of exposure to a contaminated batch, the claim may not proceed.

Experienced legal teams can bridge that gap. They often maintain detailed recall databases, work with pharmacy chains, and know how to trace drugs back to their manufacturer, even when the original paperwork is missing.

Medical Records and Documentation

To support the case, victims must also provide thorough medical documentation. The more complete and well-organized the records, the stronger the case.

Diagnosis Information: Type of cancer, date of diagnosis, and stage of cancer.
Treatment History: Chemotherapy, radiation, surgeries, and other interventions.
Drug Use Timeline: When the patient began and stopped taking Valsartan, including dosages.
Other Health History: Prior illnesses or risk factors that could be relevant to the cancer.

NDMA-related cancers have latency periods that must line up with drug usage. In other words, a person who took Valsartan for three years and developed liver cancer six months later is more likely to present a viable claim than someone whose cancer preceded the use of the drug.

Building a Strong Case Using Experts and Data

No single document or piece of evidence wins a Valsartan case. Success comes from creating a comprehensive picture by combining medical records, scientific data, and expert interpretation.

Experienced legal teams often work with:

Toxicologists: To estimate NDMA exposure and its likely effect.
Oncologists: To explain cancer causation and treatment plans.
Pharmaceutical Experts: To analyze manufacturing practices and identify product defects.
Data Analysts: To connect patient histories with national adverse event databases.

These professionals help translate raw data into compelling evidence. They also prepare for challenges from the defense, which will attempt to shift blame to unrelated causes.

Why Compensation Matters — And Why It’s So Hard to Get Without Legal Help

NDMA contamination didn’t just affect health. It affected lives. Victims have endured painful treatments, financial hardship, and emotional trauma. In some cases, families are mourning the loss of a loved one. Compensation helps address those losses — and sends a message that reckless pharmaceutical practices won’t go unchecked.

A successful claim can cover:

Medical Costs: Past and future treatment, prescriptions, and hospital stays.
Lost Income: Missed work or inability to return to work.
Pain and Suffering: Physical pain, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life.
Wrongful Death: Funeral costs and loss of companionship for family members.

But pharmaceutical companies have powerful legal teams that work aggressively to protect their bottom line. Victims without experienced representation often receive low offers or have their cases dismissed entirely.

The difference comes down to resources, experience, and knowledge. A skilled attorney knows how to assemble expert witnesses, secure medical evidence, and build a persuasive timeline. What seems impossible becomes achievable when the right legal team is behind the case.

Start Your Valsartan Cancer Claim with the Ferrell Law Group Today

You didn’t ask for this. You followed the doctor’s orders and took a medication you were told was safe. Now you’re facing cancer because drug companies cut corners and hid the risks.

If you took recalled Valsartan and were later diagnosed with cancer, the Ferrell Law Group is ready to take it from here. We know the evidence, we know the batch records, and we know how to win these cases. You don’t need to figure this out on your own — we’ve done it before, and we’ll do it for you.

Our law firm has over 30 years of experience fighting for defective product and dangerous drug victims and their families across the United States.

Contact the Ferrell Law Group today for a free consultation. Let us take it from here.

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