March 26, 2025 – New Direct-Filed Lawsuit

New lawsuits keep coming in over Ozempic and other GLP-1 receptor agonists, with plaintiffs continuing to allege severe gastrointestinal injuries. In the latest case, a plaintiff from Illinois has sued Novo Nordisk, claiming Ozempic caused debilitating gastroparesis.

Filed directly into the GLP-1 MDL in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the complaint argues that Novo knew for years about the risk of stomach paralysis but failed to warn patients and doctors. The plaintiff, who took Ozempic for weight management, suffered severe gastrointestinal complications requiring medical intervention.

March 17, 2025 – Eli Lilly Motion

Eli Lilly has filed a motion requesting that the court rule a reliable diagnosis of gastroparesis must be based on contemporaneous objective testing.

The motion further seeks to exclude testimony from plaintiffs’ experts who argue that a gastroparesis diagnosis can be reliable without such testing. The company argues that objective testing is necessary to ensure medical reliability and prevent speculative diagnoses, which could undermine the scientific rigor of the case.

March 5, 2025 – 78 New Cases Join MDL

The Ozempic class action MDL added another 78 new cases in February. That is only slightly less than the 110 new cases we saw in January. This could be the new average monthly volume that we see in this MDL moving forward. There are now 1,521 total pending cases.

February 26, 2025 – New NAION Study

A recent study published last week in JAMA Ophthalmology investigated the potential link between semaglutide and non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), a rare eye condition that can lead to sudden vision loss.

The research analyzed data from 37.1 million adults with type 2 diabetes, including over 810,000 new users of semaglutide. The findings indicated an increase in the relative incidence of NAION among semaglutide users compared to those not exposed to the drug. Specifically, the incidence rate was 14.5 cases per 100,000 person-years among semaglutide users.

So it does not happen often.  Should there be a warning that there is a risk of this awful eye problem so patients can choose whether to take the risk?  Of course.

The authors of this study also recommend that healthcare providers consider this increased risk when prescribing Ozempic, Rybelsus, and Wegovy and discuss it with patients as part of a comprehensive benefit-risk assessment.

February 25, 2025 – Prices Drop

Eli Lilly & Co. has announced a significant price reduction for its weight-loss and diabetes medication, Zepbound. The cost for single-dose vials will decrease from $699 to $499 per month for self-paying patients. Additionally, the company is introducing two new dosage options: 7.5 mg and 10 mg, both priced at $499 monthly. The existing 2.5 mg and 5 mg doses will also see price reductions to $349 and $499 per month, respectively.

Why the price drop? Demand is not dropping but the sales are not growing at the level some hoped. Why?  Are people seeing that these drugs have real limitations and risks, and they are not for everyone?

February 21, 2025 – Case Management Conference Agenda Next Week

• Update on Case Filings: Review the current status and number of case filings.

• Short Form Complaint and Enabling Order: Discuss the adoption and implementation of a standardized short form complaint to streamline individual lawsuit filings.

• Coordination Order: Consideration of an order to coordinate proceedings among various parties to ensure efficient case management.

• Deposition (Non-Expert) Protocol: Establish guidelines and protocols for conducting depositions of non-expert witnesses.

• Planning for May 14, 2025, Rule 702 Hearing: Organize and schedule the upcoming hearing focused on the admissibility of expert testimony under Federal Rule of Evidence 702.

February 6, 2025 – Ozempic MDL Sees Significant Uptick in January Filings

After a slow December, where only 31 new cases were added, the GLP-1 Receptor MDL saw a sharp increase in January with 110 new lawsuits filed. This brings the total number of pending cases to 1,443. This is still not quite the number of lawsuit we thought we would see filed when the litigation began. But our law firm continues to receive a steady stream of new inquiries from individuals who have suffered severe gastrointestinal injuries after taking GLP-1 receptor agonists like Ozempic.

February 1, 2025 – New Lawsuit

In a new lawsuit filed yesterday, a Michigan woman has sued Novo Nordisk, alleging that the company’s widely used weight-loss and diabetes drug, Ozempic, caused her to suffer severe gastrointestinal injuries.

The lawsuit, which would have been filed in the Western District of Texas if there was not an MDL in Pennsylvania, claims that the pharmaceutical giant negligently designed, marketed, and failed to warn patients about the significant risks associated with the drug, including gastroparesis, ileus, and intestinal obstruction.

The plaintiff, who was prescribed and used Ozempic in Waco, Texas, alleges that she experienced debilitating cyclical vomiting, extreme constipation, and severe dehydration that required hospitalization. The complaint details how Novo Nordisk allegedly downplayed the severity and duration of these side effects while aggressively marketing Ozempic as a “miracle” weight-loss solution. The lawsuit further claims that the company failed to provide adequate warnings about the risk of long-term gastrointestinal complications, which have led to lasting health consequences for the plaintiff.

January 29, 2025 – Motion to Dismiss Some Claims

Defendants in the Ozempic and GLP-1 receptor agonist multidistrict litigation have moved to dismiss several claims in the plaintiffs’ master complaint, arguing that many allegations are inadequately pleaded or legally barred.

Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly’s motion, filed last week, does not challenge the core failure-to-warn claims that are really the core of this litigation. They know that would be a dead end. Instead, they are aiming secondary claims to narrow the scope of litigation before addressing what, again, is the real issue: their failure to disclose the severe gastrointestinal risks of these drugs.

Defense lawyers like to reduce the number of claims whenever they can.  But they are unlikely to prevail on many of these, and even if they did, it would not have a huge impact on the litigation.  The reality is that Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly knowingly misrepresented the dangers of GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Mounjaro, ignoring clinical data and patient reports that showed clear links to stomach paralysis, intestinal obstruction, and other severe conditions. The suggestion that these claims lack merit is absurd given the volume of evidence already available.

January 28, 2025 – New Study, More Concern

A recent study published in JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery has added another layer of concern to the growing Ozempic lawsuits and the broader litigation over GLP-1 receptor agonists.  We did not need another layer to have plenty of concern.

The study analyzed data from over 350,000 adults with type 2 diabetes and found that patients initiating GLP-1RA therapy—including drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro, of course—had a significantly increased risk of being diagnosed with thyroid cancer within the first year of use compared to those prescribed other diabetes medications.

Like most single studies, this study admittedly proves nothing.  Maybe the spike is due to increased medical surveillance rather than the drug itself directly causing cancer. But the findings still raise more red flags about the potential risks of GLP-1 medications. There is too much smoke around these drugs for there not to be some fire on some of these new “maybe” side effects.

January 22, 2025 – New Study Throws More Cold Water on Ozempic

January 9, 2025 – Key Hearing in May

The court has scheduled a pivotal Rule 702 evidentiary hearing in the litigation to address Cross-Cutting Issue No. 1, set for May 14, 2025. This hearing will evaluate the admissibility of expert testimony under Rule 702, a critical step in determining whether the opinions of certain experts will be allowed to inform the case. All experts subject to motions to exclude will testify. This will be every single plaintiff’s expert on causation. So this hearing is make or break.

January 8, 2025 – Status Conference

There will be a status conference next Tuesday.

January 5, 2025 – 31 New Cases Added to MDL

The volume of new cases coming into the Ozempic class action MDL slowed down a bit in December. Only 31 new cases were added to the Ozempic MDL last month, bringing the total number of pending cases up to 1,331. This is most likely just a reflection of a slowdown over the holiday season.

The MDL judge overseeing these lawsuits involving Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and other GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs has scheduled an evidentiary hearing for May 2025 to review scientific evidence linking these medications to gastroparesis and other gastrointestinal injuries.  The judge could put an end to these lawsuits after that hearing, but our lawyers think the chance of that happening is extremely remote.

December 31, 2024 – MDL Expected to Approach 10,000 Cases

At the most recent status conference in the Ozempic MDL, lead counsel for the plaintiffs advised the judge to expect thousands, and possibly tens of thousands of cases to be added to the MDL eventually. That estimate was based on a poll of the various plaintiffs’ lawyers regarding the number of potential cases currently under investigation. That poll found that there were around 7,000 potential cases currently under investigation (and only included those plaintiffs’ lawyers who are already involved in the litigation). Meanwhile, Judge Marston set an evidentiary hearing for May 20, 2025, on whether to permit early discovery and motion practice on the issues of preemption, adequacy of warning labels, and gastroparesis diagnostic testing standards.

December 20, 2024 – Adding Saxenda, Not Other Injuries

The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation ruled to expand the GLP-1 receptor agonist MDL to include claims involving Novo Nordisk’s Saxenda. But it rejected a request to add blood clot-related injuries, such as deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, due to concerns over increased complexity.

The MDL focuses on gastrointestinal injuries such as stomach paralysis and intestinal obstruction. Despite support from both plaintiffs and Novo Nordisk for including clotting-related claims, the JPML ruled they did not share enough commonalities with gastrointestinal injuries.

November 13, 2024 – New Lawsuit

In a new lawsuit filed as part of the national MDL for glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) in Philadelphia, a Tennessee woman alleges that Novo Nordisk’s drugs, Ozempic and Wegovy, caused her to develop severe, chronic gastrointestinal injuries, including gastroparesis.

The plaintiff was prescribed Ozempic in 2022 to manage diabetes and weight. She soon began to experience persistent vomiting, nausea, and extreme stomach discomfort. After ongoing symptoms, she underwent a gastric emptying study in early 2023, a diagnostic test widely regarded as the gold standard for diagnosing delayed gastric emptying or gastroparesis, which confirmed her condition. This objective test result is likely to be significant evidence in the litigation.

Her lawsuit alleges, as they all do, that Novo Nordisk failed to adequately warn users and healthcare providers of the drugs’ severe gastrointestinal risks, including gastroparesis, stomach paralysis, and intestinal blockages—risks the plaintiff argues the company either knew or should have known based on prior clinical studies and adverse event data. She also alleges Novo Nordisk downplayed these risks in its marketing, portraying the drugs as safe, effective, and essential for weight management, while omitting critical information about the drugs’ serious side effects and the likelihood of weight regain if discontinued.

November 12, 2024 – Minimizing Gastroparesis Risks

As cases mount in the Ozempic MDL, new filings are drilling down on the claim that Novo Nordisk systematically downplayed gastroparesis risks in its marketing.  Plaintiffs’ lawyers allege Novo Nordisk was aware of Ozempic’s impact on stomach motility but resisted adjusting the warning labels, fearing it could dissuade users from starting or continuing treatment. The reluctance to address gastroparesis risks early on will be a key focus in this litigation, as many lawyers have stopped talking about cases that do not involve gastroparesis.

November 7, 2024 – New Ozempic Warning for Pulmonary Aspiration

Federal regulators have issued new warnings for popular GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro, linking them to the risk of pulmonary aspiration during elective surgeries.

These medications slow stomach emptying, which may lead to vomiting and dangerous aspiration while under anesthesia. Although experts raised concerns about this risk months ago, these warnings were only recently added. The FDA advises patients to tell healthcare providers they are on GLP-1 drugs before any surgery.

Yet another warning update for GLP-1 drugs signals an evolving understanding that is woven through so many of these updates on this page.  Despite their widespread use, the full impact of these medications remains unknown. Each new caution serves as a reminder that we’re still learning about the risks and benefits of Ozempic and this class of drugs.

November 4, 2024 – Gastric Emptying Studies Grow in Importance

The MDL judge’s seems to have questions about whether plaintiffs can prove that gastroparesis is caused by Ozempic or even whether an individual plaintiff can prove they have gastroparesis. So there is a new emphasis how to nail down whether a patient had gastroparesis and the fear that even though a doctor’s diagnosis should be enough, it won’t be.

That has led to a new emphasis on gastric emptying studies as a key element of proof in the GLP-1 agonist litigation. These studies, which measure the rate at which food leaves the stomach, are considered the most objective way to identify delayed gastric emptying, a primary symptom and clinical hallmark of gastroparesis.

As the litigation progresses, gastric emptying studies will increasingly be viewed as the key pathway to substantiating claims that drugs like Ozempic may alter gastrointestinal motility. Presenting gastric emptying study results in court provides scientific support and helps distinguish true cases of gastroparesis from other digestive issues.

November 1, 2024 – MDL Growth Continues

The GLP-1 receptor agonists class action MDL remains active, though growth is beginning to show signs of slowing. Following a surge of over 400 new cases in August and September, October saw a smaller addition of 131 cases, bringing the total to 1,221 pending lawsuits.

This reduced growth rate may reflect a shift among attorneys tightening their criteria for accepting new cases as the litigation progresses. Few lawyers are still taking gallbladder claims, for example. With the focus increasingly on strong, well-documented claims of gastroparesis, we’re likely to see more selective case growth moving forward.

October 30, 2024 – New Scheduling Order

The court put out a new scheduling order:

What we are willing to do on here is tell you the truth.  This schedule is depressing. This will be a long process.  All this is just to the point of getting to the individual lawsuits and doing more discovery on the defendants if we win.  You already see Ozempic lawyers tightening their criteria because they realize this will be a long-term project. So pack a lunch, this is going to take a while.

October 29, 2024 – Problems Making Ozempic

October 17, 2024 – Marketing Discovery Shut Down by MDL Judge

We have been talking about Plaintiffs’ motion to reconsider the MDL judges’ earlier decision to limit discovery until we address the “cross-cutting” issues first (see our September 1 and other updates on this below). Plaintiffs’ attorneys want broader access to the defendants’ marketing practices, arguing that these marketing efforts directly impacted the adequacy of the drug’s warnings related to gastrointestinal injuries like gastroparesis and severe nausea.

The court has ruled that early pre-trial discovery will focus on two central issues: the adequacy of the drugs’ warning labels and the possibility of federal preemption. Plaintiffs had hoped to expand the discovery to include marketing materials, particularly those targeting doctors and consumers, believing that these marketing efforts could dilute the impact of warning labels and influence patients’ understanding of the risks.

Unfortunately, and incorrectly in our view,  the court ruled that marketing discovery is not necessary at this early stage,. The judge wants to drill down only on the FDA-approved warning labels and whether these labels were adequate in conveying the risks, ignoring arguments that marketing informs the failure to warn case. So, for now, discovery will center on what the FDA knew and approved regarding the warning labels when these drugs were released.

This ruling narrows the scope of the early litigation to critical legal questions and postpones broader marketing-related inquiries, which Plaintiffs had hoped to pursue sooner.

September 29, 2024 – Battle Over Scope of Early Discovery

Defendants recently opposed plaintiffs’ request for limited marketing discovery that we discussed in our September 1 update.  They argue it is unnecessary due to the court’s bifurcation order, which focuses on resolving label adequacy and preemption issues first. According to the defendants, only the printed label and FDA communications are needed for these rulings.

This is wrong. Marketing materials, brochures, and promotional content are part of the “label” under FDA regulations and relevant to whether defendants adequately warned about risks like gastroparesis. Recent legal precedent, including a brand new Third Circuit ruling in In re Fosamax just this month, underscores that a drug’s label includes all materials disseminated to prescribers, not just what is on the bottle.

Plaintiffs also highlight that defendants cannot cite a single case where similar preemption or warning adequacy issues were resolved without marketing discovery. The cases defendants do reference—Taxotere and Meridia—involved marketing discovery before summary judgment was reached. Excluding this evidence, plaintiffs argue, would undermine the court’s ability to fully assess whether the drug warnings were adequate and legally sufficient.

Keep in mind, plaintiffs are not seeking a blanket expansion of discovery but merely clarification that marketing materials can be included, as they directly influence physicians’ understanding of risks and the adequacy of drug warnings. Plaintiffs argue that without this discovery, the court cannot properly determine if the warnings were diluted or minimized in promotional efforts.

In short, plaintiffs believe the Ozempic defendants are using the bifurcation order as a shield to avoid turning over critical evidence—which our lawyers suspect will make them look terrible. They urge the court to allow marketing discovery, so it has a complete picture of how the drugs were promoted and whether that promotion aligns with the printed warnings, which is essential to deciding the key issues in the case.

September 12, 2024: Pretrial Discovery

The court has scheduled early discovery and motion practice focusing on preemption and the adequacy of the warning labels. But what about marketing discovery? Plaintiffs’ lawyers have filed motion seeking its inclusion at this stage.

Plaintiffs contend that marketing discovery is essential to the case, as pharmaceutical companies frequently downplay or dilute risks in their promotional materials, potentially undermining the warnings provided in their labels. Given the significant financial stakes involved in this litigation, this issue is particularly critical because it puts it all in context. There is substantial legal precedent supporting the relevance of marketing practices to both the adequacy of warnings and preemption defenses.

September 6, 2024: New Ozempic Lawsuit Filed Yesterday

A Kentucky woman filed a new lawsuit in the MDL against Novo Nordisk yesterday.

The complaint alleges that the plaintiff, who resides in Covington, Kentucky, suffered from severe injuries after using Ozempic from January 2023 to April 2023. She was later diagnosed with gastroparesis, the signature injury in this litigation.  Gastroparesis, as most of you know, is a condition that paralyzes the stomach, leading to significant health issues including severe vomiting, abdominal pain, and the need for emergency medical treatment.

The lawsuit claims that Novo Nordisk failed to adequately warn users of the potential severe gastrointestinal risks associated with Ozempic, such as gastroparesis, despite being aware of these risks. The plaintiff argues that the drug’s labeling and promotional materials were misleading, downplaying the severity of side effects and failing to disclose the potential for serious gastrointestinal issues. The lawsuit further asserts that Novo Nordisk’s aggressive marketing and promotion of Ozempic, including extensive television advertising and marketing materials that we have all seen that highlight weight loss benefits, contributed to the widespread use of the drug without proper warnings regarding its risks.

The plaintiff is seeking compensatory damages for personal injuries, pain, suffering, and medical expenses, as well as punitive damages, alleging that Novo Nordisk acted recklessly by continuing to market Ozempic without adequate safety warnings.

September 2, 2024: New Ozempic Suicide Study

A new study, “Disproportionality Analysis From World Health Organization Data on Semaglutide, Liraglutide, and Suicidality,” scrutinizes the potential relationship between GLP-1 receptor agonists—specifically semaglutide and liraglutide—and an increase in reports of suicidal thoughts. It found a particularly strong signal of increased suicidal ideation in patients using semaglutide alongside other medications like antidepressants and benzodiazepines. There is now talk of an Ozempic suicide warning.

In the bigger picture, all of these new studies are underscoring an unsettling gap in our knowledge about the safety of these drugs. It underscores a pressing need for more comprehensive research to ensure these drugs do not pose even more hidden risks.

Are our Ozempic lawyers taking suicide and suicidal ideation lawsuits? No.  But that could change after we dig deeper into the evidence.

September 1, 2024: Plaintiffs’ Ozempic Lawyers Urge Getting All of the Evidence

It is pretty clear the defendants would like to have the judge rule on the cross-cutting issues we have been talking about without full discovery.  Plaintiffs’ attorneys, in a letter to the judge, want to cool the jets on that thinking.

The Plaintiffs argue that general causation should not be decided prematurely without comprehensive discovery, stressing the importance of a detailed examination of evidence through the Bradford Hill criteria.

You will be hearing a lot about Bradford Hill in the Ozempic litigation. The Bradford Hill criteria consist of a group of principles that help determine causal relationships between a specific factor and a disease. These criteria do not serve as definitive proof of causation but rather as guidelines to assess whether the relationship between Ozempic and health consequences like gastroparesis is likely causal.

The Plaintiffs contend that a full exploration of this evidence is essential not only to address the specific allegations but also to ensure that the evaluation of general causation is grounded in a robust factual and scientific context. They argue against limiting the scope of discovery to predefined categories that might not capture all relevant data, thereby potentially compromising the reliability and comprehensiveness of the causation analysis.

So plaintiffs’ attorneys are asking the judge for complete pre-trial discovery and request that the court resist any attempt to streamline or expedite this process might lead to an incomplete or misleading analysis.

August 27, 2024: New Video

We put up a new Ozempic lawsuit video that gives you an update on the latest in the litigation.

August 24, 2024: New Court Order

The court has granted the defendants’ request for early discovery and motion practice on two pivotal issues:

1. The reliability of gastroparesis diagnostic testing, and
2. The adequacy of the warning labels provided by the manufacturers.

The court agreed that these “cross-cutting” issues are central to the litigation and could significantly influence the scope of the claims.

Specifically, the court will address whether gastroparesis can be reliably diagnosed without objective testing and whether the FDA-approved warning labels were sufficient under federal law, potentially preempting state law claims.

The court has requested further briefings on the third issue, general causation, to determine whether GLP-1 receptor agonists are capable of causing the alleged injuries. The ruling on this issue has been deferred until after additional information is provided. A comprehensive scheduling order will be established after the next status conference on September 16, 2024, where the parties will propose deadlines for discovery and motions on the approved issues.

This order puts plaintiffs in a more defensive posture than we would like at this stage of the litigation. But Ozempic lawyers are confident that plaintiffs will win these battles.

August 21, 2024: New Mounjaro/Trulicity Lawsuit

A new lawsuit has been filed by a Kentucky woman seeking damages for severe injuries allegedly caused by the use of Mounjaro and Trulicity, manufactured by Eli Lilly and Company.

The plaintiff claims that these medications, used to control blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes, caused her to develop gastroparesis, a severe and chronic condition that affects stomach motility. The complaint alleges that Eli Lilly failed to adequately warn consumers and healthcare providers about the risks associated with these drugs, particularly the risk of gastroparesis, despite being aware of the potential dangers.

The plaintiff asserts multiple causes of action, including inadequate warning, fraudulent concealment, fraudulent misrepresentation, and negligent misrepresentation. The diet drug lawsuit details that Eli Lilly downplayed the severity of gastrointestinal side effects and failed to provide sufficient warnings or studies regarding the risk of gastroparesis associated with GLP-1 receptor agonists, the class of drugs to which Mounjaro and Trulicity belong.

Critically, the plaintiff claims that had she or her prescribing physician been properly informed, she would not have used these medications and suffered the resulting injuries.

August 15, 2024 – MDL Attorneys’ Fees

New Case Management Order No. 17 outlines the MDL fee in the Ozempic class action. From any gross monetary recovery—whether from settlement, judgment, or other forms of monetary relief—9% is allocated to the GLP-1 Fee Fund. This fund is designed to compensate the Ozempic attorneys for their legal services that benefit all plaintiffs involved in the MDL.

An additional 2% of the gross monetary recovery is allocated to the GLP-1 Expense Fund. This fund covers expenses incurred during the litigation that are considered beneficial for all plaintiffs, such as costs related to discovery, expert analysis, and other litigation-related expenditures.

What is this attorney’s fee about, and does it impact you? In an MDL, a common benefit fee is a mechanism designed to fairly distribute litigation costs among all plaintiffs who benefit from the collective efforts of the attorneys in leadership. These are the attorneys who perform work that benefits the entire group of plaintiffs, such as conducting discovery, engaging experts, and preparing for trial.

The exact distribution and impact on the attorney’s fees and the client’s recovery can vary as we saw in the 3M earplug MDL. You will have to pay the 2% in expenses, most likely. But typically, the money for leadership’s attorneys’ fees is coming out of your lawyer’s pocket, not yours. So if you have a 40% contingency fee, your lawyer is getting 31%, and MDL leadership is getting the other 9%.

August 11, 2024 – New Ozempic Gastroparesis Lawsuit

A New Hampshire resident suffering from Type 2 diabetes filed an Ozempic lawsuit this week. She used Ozempic from June 2022 to September 2023.  She was diagnosed with gastroparesis, a condition which, as you likely know if you are reading this, paralyzes the stomach muscles, preventing proper digestion.

The plaintiff alleged that Novo Nordisk failed to adequately warn about the risks associated with Ozempic, leading to severe and permanent personal injuries, pain, and emotional distress.

This lawsuit was filed directly in the MDL.

August 1, 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 in 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 non-arteritic 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.

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 10, 2024 – Philadelphia 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’s fact sheet detailing individual injuries. A plaintiff’s 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.

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.

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 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.

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 for 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 admitted out-of-state Ozempic lawyers on both sides to participate in the litigation.

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 at least 13 out of 55 of these lawsuits 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. The companies that can quickly fund Ozempic settlement amounts and jury payouts. These entities are printing money selling Ozempic.

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.

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 7, 2023 – Ozempic Class Action Lawsuit Filed in Canada

The Canadians are joining in now. Novo Nordisk is facing a class action lawsuit in Canada over allegations that the pharmaceutical company failed to provide sufficient warnings about the potential risk of gastroparesis associated with its drug Ozempic, a condition that mirrors similar lawsuits in the United States.

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.

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.