Ozempic Lawsuit

Our lawyers are investigating Ozempic lawsuits for patients with gastroparesis or gastrointestinal conditions, including bowel obstruction or cyclic vomiting syndrome.

Ozempic is the popular brand name for semaglutide, a prescription drug approved for the treatment of type-2 diabetes. As we all know, Ozempic is also commonly used as a weight management drug. Recent scientific studies have shown that taking Ozempic, particularly at higher doses, can cause gastroparesis.

Until recently, the warning label for Ozempic did not correctly notify patients or doctors about the risk of these injuries. Anyone who suffered gastroparesis after taking Ozempic may be able to get financial compensation for their injuries by filing a product liability lawsuit.

There are now lawsuits involving Ozempic, Rybelsus, Wegovy, Trulicity, and Mounjaro that, as of February 2024, is an MDL class action lawsuit.

Our Ozempic Lawyers Are Taking 8 Types of Claims

1. Gastroparesis or stomach paralysis
2. Hospitalization for over one day for GI issues
3. Esophageal injury requiring surgery
4. Ileus or bowel obstruction
5. NEW: Sudden Vision Loss or NAION (nonarthritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy)
6. DVT and related injuries, including death
7. Pulmonary aspiration
8. Gallbladder injury with surgery (Started taking drug prior to 2022)

If you have an Ozempic lawsuit, call our lawyers today at 800-553-8082 or reach out to us online for a free consultation.

Ozempic Lawsuit Updates

Our Ozempic lawyers are committed to bringing you the latest updates on this litigation. This is the latest Ozempic lawsuit news. Come back frequently. Our attorneys are constantly updating this page to bring you the latest news.

July 14, 2024 – New Mounjaro/Ozempic Lawsuit

An Illinois man has filed a new lawsuit against Novo Nordisk  and Eli Lilly alleging, among other things, the failure to warn about the risks of their weight loss drugs, Ozempic and Mounjaro,

In October 2022, the plaintiff was prescribed Ozempic by his endocrinologist for diabetes management. The plaintiff continued using Ozempic until January 2023. Subsequently, he switched to Mounjaro, also prescribed by his endocrinologist, for the same purpose.

On June 10, 2023, the plaintiff was admitted to the hospital with chest discomfort, which later escalated to severe abdominal pain. A CT scan revealed abnormal thickening in the proximal jejunal small bowel and an internal hernia, suggesting ischemia and bowel obstruction. The next day, June 11, 2023, the plaintiff underwent ischemic bowel resection surgery.

His suit, which was filed in Illinois but will be transferred to the MDL class action lawsuit pending in Pennsylvania, seeks compensation for his injuries, medical expenses, pain, and suffering, which he attributes to the defendant’s negligence and deceptive practices.

July 9, 2024 – Direct File GLP-1 Lawsuits:

You can now directly file an Ozempic lawsuit into MDL No. 3094, which addresses claims related to GLP-1 receptor agonists. A new order allows plaintiffs to directly file cases in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania to enhance administrative efficiency and centralize pretrial proceedings.

Direct filing will not determine future jurisdiction or venue. The order also introduces a streamlined service process, with Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk agreeing to waive formal service and accept email service. Additionally, it mandates that directly filed cases name no more than a single plaintiff, although consortium and derivative plaintiffs are allowed.

July 8, 2024 – Status Conference Scheduled for July 10th

The following topics will be addressed during the conference:

1. Issues raised in cross-cutting motion letter briefs.
2. Outstanding disputed provisions in the ESI protocol and 502(d) order.
3. The court’s request for discovery special master candidates.
4. The status of the time and expense order.
5. The status of discovery.

The cross-cutting motion issue is one where the defendants almost always lose. Defendants want to focus on whether Ozempic and other glucagon-like peptide-1 drugs cause gastroparesis, ileus/intestinal obstruction, cholecystitis, and venous thromboembolism.

Plaintiffs are willing to look at this causation. However, they also want to get ready for trial.  The defendants’ path delays litigation by another year.

Defendants like to stall in these MDLs. They want to delay a potential Ozempic settlement for as long as they can. MDL judges universally reject this request to bifurcate discovery.

This issue has recently arisen in the Suboxone, Tepezza, Paragard, Uber sexual assault, hair relaxer, NEC formula, and social medial addiction MDLS. Judges reject this request every time.

July 3, 2024 – New Study Finds Association Between Ozempic and Vision Loss

A new study found an association between semaglutide and nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), a type of eye stroke that causes sudden vision loss. Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, which includes Ozempic.

The researchers’ data comprised over 16,800 university hospital patients who were either managing their diabetes or weight. They compared semaglutide patients to those using other medications in a different drug class.

The researchers found that among type 2 diabetic patients, 8.9% of patients taking semaglutide had a significantly higher incidence of NAION compared to 1.8% of those on other diabetic medications.

For overweight or obese patients, the incidence was 6.7% for semaglutide users versus 0.8% for those on other weight-loss drugs. These numbers suggest a strong association between semaglutide and NAION.

This is a significant finding for both doctors and patients to consider when choosing treatment options.

July 1, 2024 – New Lawsuits Filed

Within a month, five new lawsuits were filed in this litigation. Four were filed this past June, while one was filed today. This brought the total to 106.

The lawsuit filed today involves an Indiana woman who took Ozempic to control both her diabetes and weight.

She was admitted to the emergency room on July 1, 2022, with severe constipation, rectal bleeding, and vomiting. An ultrasound revealed a bowel obstruction. The woman underwent treatment for this condition before being released. She continues to experience irregular bowel movements.

The Ozempic label failed to adequately warn her or her healthcare provider about its true risks. As a result, she claims her use of Ozempic has profoundly impacted her life.

June 23, 2024 – Kansas Resident Files Lawsuit Against Ozempic Manufacturer

A Kansas resident has filed a lawsuit against Ozempic’s manufacturer. They sought damages for severe health complications allegedly caused by the medication.

The plaintiff sued Ozempic from November 2019 to October 2022 for type 2 diabetes. They claimed the drug led to the development of gastroparesis. They also suffered from persistent vomiting, diarrhea, indigestion, bloating, abdominal pain, and significant emotional distress.

The lawsuit seeks compensation for the plaintiff’s suffering and incurred medical expenses.

June 13, 2024 – District Judge Holds Hearing With Ozempic Lawyers

Judge Marston had a hearing this week with Ozempic lawyers. Nothing eventful happened at the hearing. However, the message was clear: let’s keep the ball moving forward.

June 10, 2024 – Philadephia District Judge Takes Over Ozempic Litigation

U.S. District Judge Karen Marston in Philadelphia is taking over litigation involving Ozempic and similar drugs. Marston was selected by the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation to manage product liability proceedings that are expected to cover over 10,000 personal injury lawsuits.

The case was previously overseen by the late U.S. District Judge Gene E.K. Pratter, who, as we discuss below, passed away suddenly in May due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Lawyers continue getting these cases ready. This includes developing a plaintiff fact sheet detailing individual injuries. A plaintiff fact sheet is a document used in mass tort litigation to provide detailed information about the plaintiff’s personal injuries, medical history, and other relevant facts.

This streamlines the discovery process by standardizing critical data collection from numerous plaintiffs involved in a large-scale lawsuit.

June 3, 2024 – Dozens of Cases Added to Ozempic MDL in May

During the month of May, another dozen new cases were added to the Ozempic class action MDL, about the same volume of new cases we saw in April.

There are now 101 pending cases in the Ozempic MDL, which has started at a slower pace than we expected.

May 23, 2024 – Judge Overseeing MDL Tragically Passes Away

Some of the momentum to move this litigation forward has been stalled with the tragic death of the MDL judge, Gene E.K. Pratter, at age 75. (She seems to have lived a fantastic life.)

Now, the MDL Panel must find a new judge who will have to quickly become familiar with the litigation, which will take some time.

May 21, 2024 – Plaintiff and Defendant Attorneys Agree to Plaintiff Fact Sheet

The Ozempic plaintiffs’ committee filed a status report updating the MDL Judge on their progress with various “action items.”

According to that report, both sides in the litigation met last month in Rhode Island and are very close to agreement on a 13-page Plaintiff Fact Sheet (“PFS”) and authorization form that will be required from all plaintiffs moving forward.

The parties also agreed to use Rubris, a third-party vendor, to handle the electronic submission of the PFS and authorization forms.

May 18, 2024 – MDL Judge Schedules “Science Day”

In Case Management Order#5, the MDL judge has scheduled a “Science Day” for June 14, 2024. This will provide an overview of the medical and scientific issues relevant to the case. It is said to be non-adversarial.

However, everything in litigation is adversarial. Both parties will present the evidence to sway the judge.

May 1, 2024 – Fourteen New Cases Added to Ozempic MDL

During the month of April, 14 new cases were added to the Ozempic class action MDL.

This brings the total pending cases in the MDL to 87.

Given the increasing number of people using Ozempic and related drugs for weight loss, we could see a lot of cases in this MDL.

April 16, 2024 – Plaintiff Attorneys Refute Defendants Claim Regarding Novel Ozempic Treatment

In a filing yesterday, the plaintiffs’ attorneys refuted the Defendants’ Position Statement, which claimed that the novel treatment approaches relieve them from certain legal responsibilities.

The filing emphasizes that Ozempic’s manufacturers are not exempt from the obligation to adequately warn of the drug’s severe risks.

The plaintiffs argue that these drugs’ widespread use only heightens the necessity to inform the public of these effects. They also criticize the drug labels for inadequately warning of potential severe injuries.

The filing points out that the lack of long-term studies puts the safety of these GLP-1RA drugs into question. The longest study of these drugs lasted two years. This situation is exacerbated by a significant portion of users discontinuing the drugs due to injuries or other factors.

Additional legal arguments revolve around establishing causation for the injuries claimed. The plaintiffs refute the defendants’ proposal to rely solely on a gastric emptying study for determining causation. They advocate for a differential diagnosis.

This method, supported by many physicians, evaluates all potential causes and excludes unlikely ones. It isolates the drug as a likely contributor to the condition.

The plaintiffs also oppose the defendants’ attempts to prematurely dismiss claims or limit the tests for proving causation to overly restrictive methods. They argue that such approaches do not adequately consider individual patient histories or the doctors’ clinical judgments, which are crucial for a fair trial.

This filing also critiques the defendants for understating the severity of potential drug-induced conditions like ileus and bowel obstruction. It argues that these conditions can be much more severe than the defendants acknowledge.

The filing concludes by underscoring the necessity of a fair and comprehensive discovery process to ensure all claims are adequately considered and adjudicated.

April 10, 2024 – Ozempic Attorney Files Motions to Spite Leadership

One plaintiff’s lawyer is upset that she is not a part of leadership. Because of this, she is filing motions stating the leading lawyers are not controlling the litigation.

Her money quote is, “The record reflects that proposed leadership, simply put, is losing control of the very litigation they attempted to seize control of.” The Ozempic attorneys in leadership filed a response, calling her “admittedly inexperienced.”

This is nonsensical drama. It does not matter.

Nonetheless, the attorneys in leadership should focus their energies on advancing this litigation. The defense lawyers are just pulling out popcorn. This is not a good look for the plaintiffs.

We give more background in the April 4th update below.

April 5, 2024 – The Three Main Injuries from Taking Ozempic

We have been talking to clients calling with an Ozempic lawsuit long enough to understand the injuries that will define this litigation. There are three main types of injuries that involving the drug’s impact on the digestive system’s function in moving and processing food and waste:

Gastroparesis

Gastroparesis is the signature injury in the Ozempic litigation. It disrupts your regular, spontaneous muscle movements (motility) in your stomach. Your stomach’s motility slows down or stops entirely.

This hinders proper stomach emptying. It also causes nausea, vomiting, early satiety, weight loss, abdominal bloating, and pain.

Ileus

The ileus represents a temporary, often reversible, halt in bowel motility. It leads to an accumulation of digestive materials and gases that can’t move through the intestines as they should. This results in abdominal bloating, pain, nausea, vomiting, and obstipation.

Ileus might develop following abdominal surgery due to an infection, certain medications, or other medical conditions.

Treatment usually focuses on addressing the root cause, giving the bowels a rest, and possibly using medications to encourage bowel movement.

Ozempic lawyers are less excited about these cases, to be honest. Why? Permanent injuries will drive Ozempic settlement amounts. Illeus is awful but usually reversible.

Bowel Obstruction

Bowel obstruction occurs when a part of your intestine becomes partially or wholly blocked. This intestinal blockage stops food, fluids, and gas from moving through your intestines.

Bowel obstruction is serious and often requires immediate medical attention to prevent severe complications. Treatment options include intravenous fluids, putting your bowel at rest, and surgery.

April 4, 2024 – Plaintiff Firms Clash Over Leadership Positions

There is a dispute among plaintiffs’ lawyers about who should be in the Ozempic lawyers’ leadership. Specifically, one firm wants a larger seat at the table. They have criticized the process for being unfair and non-transparent. This firm suggests it didn’t adequately consider all interested attorneys wanting to apply.

The good news is that the Ozempic lawyers in leadership are good attorneys who we expect to lead this litigation to a successful settlement for the victims.

April 2, 2024 – Ozempic MDL Cases Increased to 74

When the Ozempic class action MDL was created in February, there were only 55 cases. They were consolidated in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. As of April 1, 2024, the number of pending Ozempic cases increased to 74. Our lawyers expect this number to grow.

March 18, 2024 – Ozempic’s Manufacturer Spends $11 Million to Pay for Physicians’ Meals and Travels

In 2022, Novo Nordisk allocated $11 million to cover meals and travel expenses for physicians. This was a strategy to market Ozempic and its portfolio of diabetes medications that facilitate weight loss.

This expenditure covered over 457,000 meals for nearly 12,000 doctors. It also included trips to international and domestic destinations such as London, Paris, Orlando, and Honolulu.

The President and CEO of the Alliance of Community Health Plans criticized Novo Nordisk’s expenditures as “outrageous.” He argued that these funds could be more effectively invested in researching the drug’s potential side effects and long-term efficacy. He referenced studies from Spring 2023 that report an association between the use of GLP-1 RA medications and intestinal obstruction.

March 15, 2024 – First Status Conference Held in Ozempic Lawsuit

The first status conference in the Ozempic class action lawsuit was held yesterday in Pennsylvania federal court.

During the conference, attorneys for Novo Nordisk and plaintiffs alleged that the pharmaceutical company failed to adequately warn users about Ozempic and similar drugs’ side effects. It aimed to address organizational and procedural aspects of the case. This includes the plaintiffs’ leadership structure, motion practice, and the development of fact sheets.

The case involves allegations against GLP-1 receptor agonist medications. These claims surround issues like inadequate warning, design defects, and others. Most of the discussion focuses on organizing the plaintiffs’ representation to streamline the litigation process.

This includes appointing a leadership team that comprises a lead counsel, liaison counsel, an executive committee, and a steering committee. The court and the parties discussed the importance of setting up a process for filing motions, particularly motions to dismiss that would apply across potentially thousands of cases to make the litigation manageable.

Both sides express a willingness to work together on a process that allows for the efficient handling of these motions. They recognize that resolving key legal issues early on significantly impacts the case’s direction.

Another critical point of discussion at this conference was the development of plaintiff fact sheets. Both sides agreed that these fact sheets are crucial for exchanging information about the use of the drugs in question and the injuries alleged. Negotiations around these fact sheets are ongoing, with an emphasis on providing proof of drug use and injury to the defendants as quickly.

Eighteen lawsuits have been consolidated in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Judge Gene E.K. Pratter is overseeing this MDL. An additional 37 lawsuits are pending consolidation.

Most of these are Ozempic lawsuits focused on the failure to warn of the risk of gastroparesis. This condition impairs stomach contractions and digestion, leading to severe symptoms like nausea and dehydration. This litigation also covers other glucagon-like peptide 1-receptor agonists like Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Trulicity.

There is no case management order as of yet. Most court orders have been admitted out-of-state Ozempic lawyers on both sides to participate in the litigation.

February 29, 2024 – First Status Conference

The first status conference for the Ozempic MDL will be held on March 14, 2024. This will be the first chance to see how U.S. District Judge Gene E.K. Pratter will approach this litigation.

February 20, 2024 – Recent Study Finds Significant Association Between Ozempic and Psychiatric Side Effects

One of the recurring themes is that we do not know enough about these drugs. Here is a new example.

A recent study found a “significant association” between glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists such as Ozempic, Mounjaro, and Wegovy and psychiatric side effects.

February 12, 2024 – Ozempic Lawsuit Filed in New Jersey Involves Gallbladder Injury

Ozempic lawsuits are being filed in New Jersey state court and the new MDL. In a recently filed claim, the plaintiff filed suit under the New Jersey Products Liability Act. She alleges that due to her use of Ozempic caused a gallbladder injury that resulted in its surgical removal on February 2, 2022.

February 8, 2024 – Research Reports on Ozempic’s Associations with Weight Loss and Gastrointestinal Issues

New research indicates that individuals using widely recognized GLP-1 receptor agonist medications, including Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro, experienced weight loss. However, many patients may encounter a heightened likelihood of experiencing gastrointestinal issues, including nausea, vomiting, and more.

The concern is particularly noted for higher doses of the drug. This suggests that the administration of Ozempic needs careful consideration regarding dosing to minimize side effects.

Interestingly, Mounjaro emerged as the most potent GLP-1RA in enhancing glycemic control by reducing hemoglobin A1c and fasting plasma glucose levels.

February 5, 2024 – Ozempic Cases Consolidated in Philadelphia Federal Court

We have a new Ozempic class action lawsuit.

The MDL Panel has directed that federal lawsuits involving Ozempic and similar medications be consolidated under a federal judge in Philadelphia. Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly want to move the cases to alternative jurisdictions like North Carolina or California.

The Panel said no. They point out that a significant portion of these lawsuits, at least 13 out of 55, are already situated in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, close to Novo Nordisk’s headquarters in New Jersey.

Our Ozempic lawyers expect to see thousands of lawsuits in the next year. The core of every Ozempic lawsuit will be that these companies failed to adequately warn users about the risks of gastroparesis, a condition causing stomach paralysis. Yes, the drug labels mention gastrointestinal side effects. However, the labels significantly underplay the severity and risks of stomach issues.

February 1, 2024 – MDL Panel Ruling to be Determined

We should get a ruling from the MDL Panel in a few weeks. Will there be an Ozempic-specific MDL, or are we going to throw all of these drugs together? That is the big question.

January 27, 2024 – Federal Judge Grants Jurisdiction Over Novo Nordisk in Ozempic Lawsuit

Judge James D. Cain Jr. ruled that Novo Nordisk AS and Novo Nordisk North America Operations AS have sufficient ties to Louisiana to permit jurisdiction over these companies in an Ozempic lawsuit.

This is not a huge deal because US-based Novo Nordisk entities and Eli Lilly are huge companies that can quickly fund Ozempic settlement amounts and jury payouts. These entities are printing money selling Ozempic.

January 12, 2024 – Federal Judge Denies Woman’s Request to Modify Express Warranty Breach Against Novo Nordisk

A federal judge in Louisiana has denied a woman’s request to modify her claim of breach of express warranty against Novo Nordisk Inc. The judge ruled that the 30 days for amending her claim regarding the diabetes drug Ozempic has expired.

This case involves a plaintiff who alleges that she developed gastroparesis after using Ozempic for over a year.

Our Ozempic lawyers update this page. Frequently. We will be giving you important and not-so-important updates on the Ozempic litigation.

File this one under the not-so-important updates. You want to keep as many counts in a complaint alive as possible. But no jury would have found against Novo Nordisk on every count but would have found for them on the express warranty claim.

January 8, 2024 – Study Suggests No Association Between Ozempic and Suicide

A new 2024 study in the journal Nature contradicts an FDA report’s concerns about potential suicide risks associated with certain weight loss and diabetes medications. The FDA was concerned about cited 201 instances of suicide or suicidal ideation related to glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, including Ozempic and Mounjaro, in a quarter report.

This new study found no increased suicide risk in patients using these medications. In fact, it suggested that patients on these drugs were less likely to attempt suicide compared to obese patients not taking them.

I have no idea if these drugs cause suicide. However, this new study is encouraging. What I do know is that we know way too little about Ozempic and Mounjaro’s side effects.

January 6, 2024 – Defendants Disagree on Consolidation 

We have updates on the path to a Mounjaro and Ozempic class action lawsuit. Novo Nordisk (Ozempic) supports the consolidation. They cite the shared factual, scientific, and legal issues among the 41 suits filed in 17 federal courts.

Novo Nordisk suggests the Western District of Louisiana or the Southern District of California for the proceeding.

However, the defendants are not on the same page. Eli Lilly (Monunjaro) opposes being included in the combined litigation. They argue that most cases focus on Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic, particularly its use for weight loss.

Eli Lilly claims these Ozempic cases are not associated with their products, Mounjaro and Trulicity, which are approved for type 2 diabetes treatment, but not weight loss. Lilly also contends that only 10 cases involve its products. They propose that these 10 cases, if included, be sent to the Southern District of Indiana or the Middle District of North Carolina.

January 1, 2024 – Recent Ozempic Lawsuit in Louisiana

In a recent Ozempic lawsuit filed in Louisiana, a patient alleges their use of Ozempic and Mounjaro caused severe health issues, including extreme vomiting and tooth loss. The defendants, Novo Nordisk and its North American operations, contest the jurisdiction of the Louisiana court.

They argue that there is the lack of substantial connection between them and the state. Novo Nordisk claim that the lawsuit fails to establish their incorporation, principal business operations in Louisiana, or significant interactions with the state.

Furthermore, the lawsuit does not explicitly allege any targeted conduct by the companies toward Louisiana, nor does it detail the plaintiff’s prescription history, marketing exposure, or injury occurrence related to the state.

The case also involves U.S.-based subsidiaries of Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly. The plaintiff seeks to consolidate federal cases involving these medications into one multidistrict litigation.

As we have been reporting, the JPML Panel will decide on this issue in January, although we think they will likely create an Ozempic class action lawsuit.

December 11, 2023 – Federal Judge Partially Denied Defendant Request to Dismiss Lawsuit

A federal judge in Louisiana has partially denied Novo Nordisk Inc.’s request to dismiss a lawsuit alleging inadequate warnings about the side effects of the diabetes drug Ozempic, specifically gastroparesis.

The warnings case is critical to any Ozempic lawsuit. The judge dismissed claims of breach of express warranty but allowed other claims to proceed. The judge also noted the complaint’s claims about inadequate warnings for physicians under Louisiana’s learned intermediary doctrine.

The ruling did not address similar claims against Eli Lilly & Co.’s drug Mounjaro. A decision on that is still pending.

December 5, 2023 – European Regulators Investigate Association Between Ozempic and Suicidal Thoughts

European regulators, specifically the European Medicines Agency (EMA), are investigating to determine an association between certain diabetes and weight loss drugs, including Ozempic, Wegovy, and other glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, and suicidal thoughts and self-harm.

Our Ozempic lawyers are focused on lawsuits for patients suffering from gastrointestinal disorders, including gastroparesis or cyclic vomiting syndrome. We have no idea if there is a correlation between suicide and Ozempic.

This investigation indicates that we know little about these drugs. We also know historically that drug companies are loathe to admit a correlation between suicidal ideation and actions and a blockbuster drug.

December 1, 2023 – Plaintiffs File Motion with MDL Panel

A motion was filed with the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) by a group of plaintiffs. They seek to centralize all federal gastroparesis lawsuits related to Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and similar GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs.

The motion proposes that pretrial proceedings be consolidated under U.S. District Judge James D. Cain, Jr. in the Western District of Louisiana.

There are 18 cases pending across various U.S. District Courts. But that is just the beginning. These drugs are huge, and it is hard to imagine an MDL will not be created.

November 14, 2023 – Recent Video on Ozempic Lawsuits

See our latest video on the Ozempic Lawsuits.

November 7, 2023 – Ozempic Class Action Filed in Canada

The Canadians are joining in now. Novo Nordisk is contending with a class action lawsuit in Canada over allegations that the pharmaceutical company did not provide sufficient warnings about the potential for gastroparesis caused by its drug Ozempic, a condition that, of course, mirrored lawsuits here.

October 6, 2023 – New Study Suggests that Ozempic Causes Gastrointestinal Problems

This new study will encourage many victims to file an Ozempic lawsuit in 2023. It was released in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

The study’s data suggests that individuals using popular weight loss medications, like Ozempic or Wegovy, might be at high risk of developing severe gastrointestinal issues.

This is even more evidence of a potential association between weight loss drugs known as GLP-1 agonists and such stomach-related risks. The drugs in Ozempic and Wegovy contain semaglutide, while Saxenda contains liraglutide. Novo Nordisk produces both medications.

September 29, 2023 – FDA Updates Ozempic Label to Include Ileus Risk

Yesterday, the FDA updated the Ozempic label to include a cautionary note regarding a heightened risk of ileus. This condition obstructs the passage of food or fluid through the colon. Can we all agree that we do not know all the risks associated with Ozempic in 2023?

On September 28, 2023, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) updated the Ozempic label to include a cautionary note regarding a heightened risk of ileus, a condition that obstructs the passage of food or fluid through the colon.

July 25, 2023 – New Evidence Reveals Association Between Gastrointestinal Problems and Ozempic

Newly released evidence reveals that using Ozempic or Wegovy for weight loss can cause severe gastrointestinal conditions, including gastroparesis (stomach paralysis) and cyclic vomiting syndrome.

Both conditions have been linked to prolonged use of Ozempic and Wegovy at the high doses commonly used for weight loss. These debilitating conditions can cause a severe and permanent impact on the patient’s life.

July 12, 2023 – ASA Advises Against Using Ozempic Before Elective Surgery

The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) now advises against the use of medications like Ozempic before elective surgery. This caution stems from an increased risk of vomiting and aspiration during anesthesia.

The warning, forming part of the ASA’s new guidance, comes as a result of the significant rise in the use of these drugs. Our lawyers do not deny that this drug may have significant benefits for some people.

But the larger question is what the real risks of this class of drugs are and whether doctors and patients were adequately warned of these risks?   With respect to gastroparesis, our lawyers would tell you yes. But there may be other risks and complications that have not been thoroughly investigated.

Ozempic

Ozempic (generically known as semaglutide) is a prescription medication that is used in the management of type 2 diabetes. Ozempic is part of a class of drugs known as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. GLP-1 is a hormone in the body that gets released in response to food intake and helps regulate blood sugar levels.

There is also evidence that Ozempic can induce weight loss in people with obesity, even those without diabetes. Ozempic is approved for the management of type-2 diabetes. Recently, however, doctors have prescribed Ozempic to treat obesity and weight management.

Ozempic is manufactured by the Dutch pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, which focuses primarily on the development and sale of diabetes drugs. Ozempi

c was first developed by Novo Nordisk in 2012, and it was approved for use by the FDA and released on the U.S. market in December 2017. In 2021, a higher-dose version of Ozempic (sold under the brand name Wegovy) was approved by the FDA.

Ozempic (and other GLP-1 drugs) work by stimulating the production of insulin after meals. GLP-1 is a naturally occurring peptide in the body that helps control blood sugar levels. GLP-1 agonists mimic the effects of this peptide, making them useful in the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

So this drug helps to reduce blood sugar to normal levels. Ozempic also slows down the digestive process, which also helps to maintain normal glucose levels. Ozempic is administered as a once-weekly injection with a minimum dosage of 0.25 mg and a maximum dose of 1 mg.

Beyond its primary use for diabetes, the weight loss effects of Ozempic, observed during clinical trials, led to further exploration of the drug’s potential in this area. As a result, semaglutide has also been approved in higher doses under the name “Wegovy,” for chronic weight management.

How does Ozempic work? It works great. The drug is sweeping the country and it is helping many patients. The question is did the drug maker warn of all the risk so that a minority of patients did not unnecessary suffer?

Gastroparesis Is Awful

Gastroparesis is essentially a stomach condition where the muscles don’t work as they should. Normally, strong muscle movements help move food along the digestive system. But if you have gastroparesis, this movement in your stomach is either too slow or doesn’t happen at all, making it hard for your stomach to empty food correctly.

This can mess up your digestion and lead to several problems, like feeling nauseous, throwing up (sometimes even food that hasn’t been digested), belly pain, bloating, getting severely dehydrated, feeling full quickly when eating, food not digesting and staying in the stomach, acid reflux, blood sugar levels going up and down, not feeling hungry, losing weight, not getting enough nutrients, and a drop in your quality of life.

The news gets worse: there is no known cure for gastroparesis.

So, if you are reading this and you are not a victim, imagine the hunger pangs that prompt you to nourish your body, only to be met with pain, nausea, and vomiting every time you try to eat.

This condition traps its sufferers in a relentless cycle of discomfort. With a stomach that refuses to cooperate, the basic human need to eat becomes a battleground. Every meal is a calculation, a risk, and often a regret. The physical symptoms are just the beginning; the psychological toll is equally devastating. The constant worry about when the next flare-up will occur, the anxiety of eating in public, and the stress of managing a diet that is both safe and nourishing can be overwhelming. It is miserable.

The pain and discomfort of gastroparesis are not fleeting, either. They linger and echo through every aspect of your life, casting a shadow over daily activities and social interactions. The chronic nature of the condition means that relief is often temporary and incomplete, leaving sufferers to navigate a maze of treatments and dietary adjustments in search of some semblance of normalcy.

Moreover, gastroparesis is often misunderstood or dismissed by those unfamiliar with its impacts, adding a layer of isolation to the suffering. Gastroparesis symptoms are non-specific and can overlap with other medical conditions, such as functional dyspepsia, irritable bowel syndrome, and peptic ulcer disorder, often leading to both over and under diagnosis of the condition. . Because invisible conditions are always overlooked by family and friends, one of the greatest injuries of gastroparesis is that empathy can be scarce, leaving individuals feeling alone in their struggle.

Cholecystitis is Awful, Too

Cholecystitis, or inflammation of the gallbladder, is usually caused by blockage of the tube leading out of the gallbladder. It is a serious condition that must be treated immediately to avoid potentially fatal complications. The most common treatment for cholecystitis is removal of the gallbladder.

Gallstones (cholelithiasis) are hard deposits that develop inside the gallbladder. They can get as big as a gold ball in some cases. Gallstones are categorized into two different types: cholesterol stones and pigment stones. Cholesterol stones are more common and comprised of excess cholesterol. Pigment stones are formed from bilirubin, a byproduct of the breakdown of red blood cells in the liver.

Estimated Settlement Amounts for an Ozempic Lawsuit

Estimating the potential settlement value of new product liability cases like this is almost impossible to do with any real accuracy. That is particularly true with the Ozempic gastroparesis lawsuits because they are very new. At this point, we don’t know how the scientific evidence behind these cases is going to hold up in court. That is a major variable in any defective drug case.

Still, victims want to know how much the Ozempic lawsuit is going to payout? So what our lawyers can do, however, is provide an educated guess as to the possible settlement compensation payout range of Ozempic cases based on various assumptions about the causation evidence. Based on these significant assumptions, our attorneys believe that a successful Ozempic lawsuit could have a settlement value range of $400,000 to $700,000. This is the settlement value estimate for the “top tier” Ozempic cases, which would be those in which the plaintiff suffered severe gastroparesis or death.

In our April 5, 2024 update above, our attorneys talk about the type of cases we are seeing in this litigation. Some of them involve injuries that resolve quickly. You will not see settlement payouts anywhere near that number for those types of lawsuits. But serious permanent injury cases may see real value.

There is also the bigger picture to consider when predicting Ozempic payouts. Practically, Ozempic, Rybelsus, Wegovy, Trulicity, and Mounjaro are huge money-makers. These defendants are likely to pay out billions in this litigation and still make a fortune off these drugs. So the expectation is they will look to pay settlement amounts over the publicity – and possibly punitive damages – a trial could bring.

New Ozempic Warning

On September 28, 2023, the FDA added a new warning to the Ozempic label about the potential for increased risk of ileus, a blockage that keeps food or liquid from passing through the colon.

The new warning on the Ozempic label states that:

Ileus: Ileus is a serious but rare side effect that has been reported in patients taking Ozempic. Ileus can cause abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and constipation. If you experience any of these symptoms, contact your healthcare provider immediately.

The FDA also recommends that healthcare providers monitor patients taking Ozempic for signs and symptoms of ileus, and that they consider discontinuing Ozempic if ileus is suspected.

The point being underscored here is that we have a drug on the market, but the risks of the drug are far from nailed down.

The Focus of Every Ozempic Lawsuit Is the Failure to Warn

Every Ozempic lawsuit asserts the key claim in this litigation:  Novo Nordisk, the maker of Ozempic, failed to provide adequate warnings about the risk of developing gastroparesis, a condition characterized by delayed stomach emptying, as a side effect of the drug.

While the Ozempic label mentions common adverse reactions like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and constipation, it does not link these symptoms to gastroparesis nor does it include them in the “Warnings and Precautions” section. The label does mention delayed gastric emptying in the context of drug interactions and describes a minor delay in gastric emptying as part of the drug’s mechanism, but it does not explicitly state gastroparesis as a risk or potential chronic condition resulting from Ozempic use.

Furthermore, Novo Nordisk’s promotional materials, including their main website, ignore the risk of gastroparesis in the “Important Safety Information” section. It also highlights changes in the labeling over time, such as the removal of certain instructions related to side effects in the “Patient Counseling Information” section, which could lead physicians to misinterpret symptoms like vomiting as non-serious or temporary.

Victims’ Ozempic lawyers argue that Novo Nordisk was aware or should have been aware of the potential link between Ozempic and gastroparesis, based on clinical studies, case reports, and medical literature. That is the core of these lawsuits. The company failed to provide adequate warnings about this risk, which allegedly led to a lack of awareness in the medical community and potentially affected prescribing decisions.

You also have to remember that we are not just talking about Ozempic in terms of clues to the risk. Ozempic is a  GLP-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA). The risk of gastroparesis is common across the GLP-1RA class, which includes medications like tirzepatide, exenatide, liraglutide, albiglutide, dulaglutide, and lixisenatide. Published literature on the association between gastroparesis and any GLP-1RA, not just Ozempic, should have alerted manufacturers to the need for warnings about this risk to patients and prescribing physicians.

Ozempic lawsuits contend that if the risks of gastroparesis had been adequately disclosed, it would have influenced the physician’s decision to prescribe Ozempic or to monitor for symptoms of gastroparesis more closely. Why not disclose the risk? There could be any number of reasons. But, like everything, it usually comes down to money. More warnings equals less sales, which equals less money. It is as simple as that.

Ozempic Class Action Lawsuit

In February 2024, the MDL panel certified an Ozempic class action lawsuit. A Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) class action can potentially speed up the settlement process in lawsuits like the Ozempic case in two important way that may lead to earlier Ozempic settlements:

1. Streamlined Proceedings: MDLs consolidate similar cases to streamline the legal process. By bringing numerous similar lawsuits under one court, MDLs help reduce duplicative discovery, avoid conflicting rulings in different courts, and increase the efficiency of the legal process. This consolidation can lead to quicker settlements because it creates pressure on the defendants to resolve many cases at once rather than dealing with each case individually over a prolonged period.
2. Higher Negotiation Leverage: In an MDL, the large number of cases consolidated together increases the plaintiffs’ negotiation leverage. This can encourage the defendant, in this case, Novo Nordisk, to settle to avoid the risk of facing a potentially large, cumulative judgment across many individual cases. Settlements in an MDL can offer compensation to claimants more quickly than individual lawsuits, which might take years to resolve. Ozempic settlement amounts are unlikely to be one-size-fits-all. If these claims are successful, Ozempic settlement payouts will vary depending on the severity of the side effects and the evidence supporting the plaintiffs’ claims.

Our lawyers sometimes refer to the Ozempic MDL (multidistrict litigation) as a class action lawsuit because that is what people call it (and, frankly, how they search it), but it is important to understand that these two legal mechanisms are distinct.

A class action lawsuit involves a group of plaintiffs who have suffered similar harm from the same defendant, and their cases are combined into a single lawsuit. This allows the group to be represented collectively by a member of the class, and any judgment or settlement applies to all class members. In a class action, the court must certify the class, establishing that the claims are sufficiently similar and that the representative parties will protect the interests of the class. You might see some classic Ozempic class actions filed in this litigation that includes consumer claims for people that may not be injured.

On the other hand, an MDL consolidates individual Ozempic lawsuits with similar claims into one court for pretrial proceedings to streamline the process and make it more efficient. Each plaintiff in an MDL maintains their individual lawsuit, and their case is transferred back to its original court for trial if it does not settle during the MDL process. The primary goal of an MDL is to handle complex cases involving many plaintiffs and common factual issues more efficiently.

In the context of the Ozempic MDL, multiple individual cases related to the drug are consolidated for pretrial procedures. This allows for coordinated discovery and judicial efficiency but retains the individuality of each plaintiff’s claim. Unlike a class action, the outcomes in an MDL can vary for each plaintiff based on the specifics of their case.

Hiring an Ozempic Lawyer

If you have an Ozempic gastroparesis lawsuit, call our Ozempic lawsuit lawyers today at 800-553-8082 or reach out to us online for a free consultation.