Ozempic lawsuits claim the drug can cause severe gastroparesis, ileus and intestinal blockage. Lawyers are also pursuing cases of Ozempic vision loss. Plaintiffs claim they weren't properly warned of these risks. The first Ozempic stomach paralysis lawsuit was filed on Aug. 2, 2023. So far, there have been no settlements.
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Latest Ozempic Lawsuit Updates
As of October 2024, there are 1,090 personal injury lawsuits for gastroparesis, ileus and intestinal blockage or obstruction in MDL 3094 in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
In July 2024, lawyers began investigating Ozempic vision loss lawsuits. People who took any semaglutide drug, such as Ozempic and Wegovy, and suffered vision loss may qualify to file a lawsuit for potential compensation.
Ozempic Lawsuit Timeline
September 2024:
There has been an explosion of new lawsuits filed into the MDL over the last month as Ozempic litigation expands. At the start of August, 346 lawsuits were active within the MDL. As of the first week of September, that number has shot up to 869. We're continuing to keep a close eye on the progress of this litigation.
July 2024:
Lawyers are investigating potential lawsuits for semaglutide-related vision loss and blindness after a 2024 study published in JAMA Ophthalmology found an association between semaglutide and an eye condition called nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION).
June 2024:
On June 6, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation reassigned the Ozempic MDL to Judge Karen S. Marston, and Marston met with attorneys for a status conference. No official orders from Judge Marston regarding the bellwether process set by the late Judge Pratter had been filed as of June 11, but we think Marston is likely to continue the work of the late judge and work with attorneys to choose cases for bellwether test trials and coordinate discovery proceedings.
May 2024:
Judge Gene E. K. Pratter, the presiding judge in the Ozempic lawsuit MDL, died unexpectedly in Philadelphia on May 17. Experts expected case delays as the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation considered how to reassign the MDL.
For clients, the death of a judge might spread uncertainty about their cases. However, lawyers involved in the litigation, including our partners, assured clients that they take their obligation seriously. They were working to move things forward despite the tragedy and were still making progress in the MDL.
May 2024:
Judge Pratter appointed Paul Pennock of Morgan & Morgan and other attorneys to the Plaintiff's Committee to help guide the litigation.
March 2024:
Litigation was still in the early stages. Attorneys for defendants Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly filed their notices of appearance and more plaintiffs continue to transfer into the MDL.
February 2024:
At least 55 lawsuits claiming Ozempic and other GLP-1 receptor agonist class drugs caused severe gastrointestinal injuries were combined into a federal multidistrict litigation in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Plaintiff's lawyers expected the number could grow to as many as 10,000.
January 2024:
The FDA said it was evaluating reports of hair loss, suicidal thoughts and aspiration under sedation and anesthesia among people taking Ozempic and similar diabetes and weight loss medications. The move followed multiple reports of the possible side effects received in the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System database.
December 2023:
Judge James Cain, Jr. denied Novo Nordisk's attempt to dismiss Jaclyn Bjorklund's case. He did dismiss the express warranty claims. All other claims, including failure to warn, are clear to proceed. Plaintiff lawyers filed a motion to consolidate Ozempic cases in Louisiana District Court.
November 2023:
Canadians filed a proposed class action lawsuit in B.C. Supreme Court alleging Novo Nordisk failed to adequately warn prospective patients about potential complications, specifically gastroparesis, linked to Ozempic. This lawsuit mirrors similar legal actions elsewhere.
September 2023:
FDA added intestinal blockage/obstruction and ileus to Ozempic's warning label.
August 2023:
Jaclyn Bjorklund, 2:23-cv-01020-JDC-KK, became one of the first people to file an Ozempic and Mounjaro gastroparesis lawsuit. Summonses to Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly were issued on Aug. 3. Three months later, on Nov. 3, 2023, Novo Nordisk filed a motion to dismiss Bjorklund's lawsuit in Louisiana federal court.
July 2023:
ASHP, the largest association of pharmacy professionals in the U.S., advised that Novo Nordisk was running short of Ozempic and Wegovy, another semaglutide, because of increased demand.
August 2022:
Judges centralized seven Novo Nordisk lawsuits in multidistrict litigation in Delaware against generic drug makers for patent infringement. Defendants had filed U.S. Food and Drug Administration applications for approval to make generic versions of Ozempic. Also in August, after scientists published a research letter in JAMA Internal Medicine linking Ozempic to a higher risk of gallbladder disease and gallstones, lawyers began accepting Ozempic gallbladder lawsuits.
Ozempic is a brand name for semaglutide and is manufactured by Novo Nordisk. Jaclyn Bjorklund was the first to file an Ozempic lawsuit and included the drug Mounjaro (tirzepatide) and Eli Lilly, its manufacturer, as a defendant. Ozempic lawsuits are still in the early stages, and there have been no global settlements or jury trials.
“Due to the popularity of Ozempic and other semaglutide medications, consumers should be aware of the side effects and the long-term impacts of continued use.”
Why Are People Filing Ozempic Lawsuits?
Currently, the bulk of people filed Ozempic lawsuits because they took the drug and later suffered from gastroparesis, ileus or intestinal blockage. Ozempic, also known as semaglutide, belongs to a class of drugs called GLP-1 agonists, and lawyers are also investigating other drugs in this class. Gastroparesis is a severe disorder that causes food to move too slowly through the stomach to the small intestine. In some cases, food may stop moving through the intestine altogether.
Gastroparesis may cause nausea, vomiting, abdominal bloating, abdominal pain, severe dehydration, acid reflux, malnutrition and weight loss. Undigested food may remain in the stomach and harden.
“During this frightening obsession with semaglutide usage, particularly its off-label, higher dosage use for weight loss, I’ve been extremely concerned about the fallout of use of this class of drugs,” said JJ, a former Certified Pharmacy Technician who is using initials to protect her privacy.
“They have black box warning labels, yet all my friends are using them without a thought,” JJ told Drugwatch. “[They] have reported bouts of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and constipation, which sound to me like evidence of gastroparesis — which can kill you.”
Other GLP-1 agonists being named in gastroparesis claims include:
In September 2023, the FDA added an Ozempic warning for intestinal blockage, intestinal obstruction and ileus. Ileus is a condition that causes the intestines to stop working properly.
According to Ozempic lawsuits, since the FDA approved Ozempic in 2017, Novo Nordisk has not included gastroparesis warnings in its prescription information until September 2023. The company warned about other Ozempic side effects but didn’t warn the public of the risk of severe gastroparesis.
There is no cure for gastroparesis, and plaintiffs are seeking compensation for loss of quality of life, past and future medical bills and other damages.
Injuries Named in Ozempic Lawsuits
The main injury claimed in the most recent Ozempic lawsuits is gastroparesis, or a paralyzed stomach. This causes severe vomiting that can last for four weeks or more. Gastroparesis may also occur with gastroenteritis, or stomach inflammation.
In addition to gastroparesis, lawyers are investigating cases of ileus, intestinal blockage and intestinal obstruction. Persistent vomiting is one of the main signs of gastroparesis, and many people who filed lawsuits vomited for several months after taking Ozempic.
It’s important to note that not everyone who takes semaglutide will develop severe side effects such as gastroparesis.
“The most common side effects would be GI side effects. Nausea, vomiting, a feeling of fullness. Maybe some reflux, like regurgitation, like you taste your food a little bit after you eat,” said Dr. Sue Decotiis, a medical weight loss physician who often prescribes semaglutide and tirzepatide on her medically supervised program.
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People Who Filed Ozempic Lawsuits
According to Jaclyn Bjorklund’s complaint, which combines an Ozempic lawsuit and a Mounjaro lawsuit, she had gastrointestinal problems after she used Ozempic and Mounjaro. She took Ozempic for more than a year before she stopped using it in July 2023 and switched to Mounjaro. She experienced gastroparesis that caused severe vomiting, which led to her teeth falling out.
Bjorklund was forced to visit the emergency room several times and was hospitalized with symptoms that included stomach pain, gastrointestinal burning and throwing up whole food only hours after eating. She now takes additional medications for excessive vomiting.
Laura Marrero filed her Ozempic lawsuit in December 2023 after she had been taking Ozempic from May 2023 to October 2023 and suffered persistent vomiting the entire time she took the drug. In August 2023, Marrero ended up in the hospital with abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, difficulty swallowing and rectal bleeding.
Her nurse practitioner told her to stop taking Ozempic in October 2023 because of severe side effects, including persistent vomiting.
“As a direct result of Ms. Marrero’s use of Ozempic, she suffered and continues to suffer from complications causing her damage, including but not limited to pain, suffering, mental anguish, depression, loss of enjoyment of life, medical expenses and other out-of-pocket losses, and loss of income.”
Who Qualifies To File an Ozempic Lawsuit?
You may qualify to file an Ozempic lawsuit if you took Ozempic for weight loss or any other indication and experienced gastroparesis. At this time, lawyers are accepting cases from people who suffered severe gastroparesis resulting in vomiting for four weeks or more.
Currently, you may not qualify if you had gastric bypass surgery, gastric banding or gastric sleeve surgery before taking Ozempic. Additionally, lawyers are not taking Ozempic cases for those being treated for cancer.
These criteria are guidelines, and only an Ozempic lawyer can tell you if you qualify to file a lawsuit. Make sure you contact a lawyer right away for a free case review and preserve your right to file a lawsuit for potential compensation. Depending on the state you live in, you may only have a limited time to file.
Q&A with Jonathan SedghMass torts and product liability attorney
Mass torts and product liability attorney Jonathan Sedgh answers important questions about Ozempic gastroparesis lawsuits.
Why are you filing lawsuits against the makers of Ozempic and other GLP-1 drugs?
We’re filing lawsuits against these drugmakers for failing to properly warn people of the risk of gastroparesis, ileus and intestinal blockages.
What type of science is there that links these drugs to these side effects?
There are some publicly available clinical trials, observational studies and case reports showing an association between gastroparesis or persistent vomiting and Ozempic and these types of drugs.
What kind of warnings are currently on these drug labels?
At the time we first started pursuing this litigation, Mounjaro was probably the only label that listed something related to gastroparesis, but it is in no way adequate. The rest of the medications do not mention anything in the Warning section about vomiting, gastroparesis, stomach being frozen or stomach paralysis. We believe that they should have at least told the FDA or suggested to the FDA that there should be some sort of warning there. It wasn’t until September 2023 that the FDA required a warning for ileus and intestinal blockage for these drugs.
If people believe they were injured by Ozempic or another one of these drugs, how do they know if they qualify for a lawsuit?
If you’ve been vomiting for more than a few weeks, it’s worth giving us a call. We could hear your story just to see what the facts are in your case. Sometimes there are nuances, so if somebody has a few ER visits but was only vomiting for two or three weeks, that’s something we would look at.
Ozempic Vision Loss Lawsuits
In addition to gastroparesis claims, lawyers are investigating Ozempic vision loss and blindness lawsuits. A 2024 study published in JAMA Ophthalmology reported that patients with Type 2 diabetes who took semagalutide-containing medications had more than a fourfold higher risk for developing nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) compared with patients not on a GLP-1 agonist.
Overweight people who took semaglutide for weight loss had a more than sevenfold higher risk.
NAION occurs when blood flow to the optic nerve stops, and it’s not curable. Researchers think that GLP-1 drugs could affect the blood flow to the optic nerve, leading to development of the eye condition.
Q&A with Trent B. MiracleMass Torts and Product Liability Attorney
Trent B. Miracle, Esq. discusses Ozempic vision loss lawsuits, including how people may qualify to file a claim.
How do I know if I qualify for an Ozempic vision loss lawsuit?
If you have previously been prescribed semaglutide products like Ozempic or Wegovy and suffered vision loss you may qualify. Specifically, if you have suffered nonarteritic ischemis optic neuropathy (NAION) and took either of these drugs you likely qualify to file suit.
What is the science on how Ozempic causes vision loss?
The link between NAION and these products isn’t specifically known at this time. It is possible that semaglutide interferes with vascular healthy and blood flow resulting in an ischemic event restricting blood flow to the optic nerve. Individuals with diabetes are already predisposed to vascular complications so introducing semaglutide to the mix could cause such an injury.
What can I expect if I contact a law firm about a potential vision loss case?
The firm will gather information about your use of semaglutide, your medical history and this specific injury in order to made a determination on whether to proceed on your behalf. This process likely involves reviewing your medical and pharmaceutical records as well.
Choosing an Ozempic Lawyer
When choosing an Ozempic lawyer, be sure to check the law firm’s experience and track record of obtaining settlements and favorable jury verdicts in pharmaceutical lawsuits. Drugwatch works with Morgan & Morgan, one of the largest national law firms in the country on gastroparesis claims.
The firm has recovered $15 billion in settlements and verdicts for clients. It is currently investigating more than 500 Ozempic gastroparesis lawsuits for clients in 45 states.
“Ms. Bjorklund put her trust in Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly and Company, and we believe that as a result she has gone through a hell that no one should have to endure.”
“Ms. Bjorklund put her trust in Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly and Company, and we believe that as a result she has gone through a hell that no one should have to endure,” Morgan & Morgan partner Paul Pennock said in a statement. “Ms. Bjorklund, as well as the over 500 clients across 45 states whose claims we continue to investigate, have suffered ongoing gastrointestinal problems that in many cases are severe, debilitating and disabling. Some of the injuries may be permanent.”
For many people injured through no fault of their own after taking Ozempic, filing a lawsuit can hold companies accountable for their alleged failure to warn patients about these serious side effects, Pennock added.
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“Due to the popularity of Ozempic and other semaglutide medications, consumers should be aware of the side effects and the long-term impacts of continued use.”
“Ms. Bjorklund put her trust in Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly and Company, and we believe that as a result she has gone through a hell that no one should have to endure.”
