Semaglutide Lawsuits l | The Guardian Legal Network

Semaglutides are a widely used category of medication used to increase insulin production and reduce blood sugar. While they are mostly prescribed to diabetics, they are also used to promote weight loss. From 2015 to 2020, 51.1% of US adults, or around 43.3 million people, met the FDA eligibility criteria for semaglutide according to the National Library of Medicine, meaning they had a body mass index of at least 27 and had at least one weight-related condition.

Those taking semaglutide and weight loss medications have reported suffering severe side effects, often requiring hospitalization for their injuries. Victims are taking legal action against the manufacturers for these dangers and pursuing justice for their injuries.

How Semaglutide Works

Semaglutide mimics a hormone called glucagon-like peptide, designated GLP-1. GLP-1 regulates blood sugar levels and slows the rate of digestion. Testing revealed people who used GLP-1 mimicking medication, semaglutide, lost 15% of their body fat over 68 weeks, proving to be a powerful weight-loss drug.

The first and most famous of these semaglutide medications, Ozempic, was approved by the FDA on December 5, 2017. This once-a-week injection is used by those living with type 2 diabetes and lowers the risk of strokes and heart attacks.

Following Ozempic’s approval came Wegovy, a semaglutide used as a supplement to diet and exercise for chronic weight management, and Rybelsus, another semaglutide type 2 diabetes medication.

Reported Injuries

Numerous injuries have been linked to semaglutide medications. Each of these complications are severe side effects that have seen consumers hospitalized with compounding medical costs through treatment or surgery. The reported injuries are:

Gastric Injury
Ileus
Gastroparesis/Stomach Paralysis
Pulmonary Aspiration(associated with anesthesia/surgery)
Deep Vein Thrombosis(DVT)
Pancreatic Cancer
Non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION)
Blurry or lost vision
Persistent vomiting for 4+ weeks

The products and brands linked to these injuries are:

Ozempic
Wegovy
Trulicity
Saxenda
Mounjaro
Zepbound
Rybelsus
Victoza

These drugs and their manufacturer are falling under scrutiny, and although this mass tort is in its infancy, it is likely to grow in popularity in the coming months.

Notable Defendants

These medications are produced by two notable manufacturers: Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly. Nordisk has been the primary proponent of semaglutide for almost a decade, being the first to file for regulatory approval from the FDA on December 6, 2016 and is the maker of Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus, and Saxenda. Meanwhile, Eli Lilly is a direct competitor with their own weekly treatment for type 2 diabetes, Mounjaro.

Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly are facing resistance from victims and governmental bodies alike for the injuries linked to their medications. Though the litigation is young, some notable efforts have been taken to move the lawsuit along.

In July 2023, the United Kingdom launched a probe into Novo Nordisk for the weight-loss drug Saxenda and suicidal thoughts linked to the medication. This action comes after the European Union ruled for a similar action two weeks prior and the UK’s decision extends to all GLP-1 drugs including Ozempic and Wegovy.

A month later in August, a 44-year-old Louisiana woman claimed she suffered severe injuries caused by her use of Ozempic and Mounjaro, medications both prescribed to her by her doctor. The woman, Jaclyn Bjorklund, was hospitalized several times for stomach issues and suffered gastrointestinal burning, stomach pain, and persistent vomiting that resulted in the loss of teeth. She is suing for compensatory and punitive damages, alleging the companies knew about the connection between these injuries and GLP-1 medication.

Similar cases are coming to light and, even if no ruling has been made regarding this lawsuit, a favorable result will likely result in victims with similar lawsuits getting the justice they deserve. Though this multi-district litigation has just begun, it’s never too early for victims to fight for their right to compensation.

How We Can Help

The Guardian Legal Network is here to help people struggling with injuries caused by their type 2 diabetes or weight loss medication seek compensation for their injuries. We’ve already helped 220,000 people connect with expert legal counsel to seek the justice they deserve.

If you have experienced injuries due to your semaglutide or type 2 diabetes medication, you may be entitled to legal compensation. File and complete a no-cost claim review. It only takes 15 minutes and you don’t pay unless you win.

Take the fight to Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly today before it’s too late.

References

Fick, Maggie. “Exclusive: UK Probes Novo’s Ozempic, Weight-Loss Drug Saxenda over Suicidal, Self-Harming Thoughts.” Reuters, July 26, 2023. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/uk-probing-novos-ozempic-weight-loss-drug-saxenda-over-suicidal-self-harming-2023-07-26/.
Lu, Yuan, Yuntian Liu, and Harlan M. Krumholz. “Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Financial Barriers among Overweight and Obese Adults Eligible for Semaglutide in the United States.” Journal of the American Heart Association, October 4, 2022. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9673703/.
Lynch, Jamiel, and Jamie Gumbrecht. “Woman Sues Drug Makers of Ozempic and Mounjaro over Severe Gastrointestinal Issues | CNN Business.” CNN, August 3, 2023. https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/03/business/ozempic-mounjoro-lawsuit/index.html.
“Medications Containing Semaglutide.” U.S. Food and Drug Administration, May 31, 2023. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/postmarket-drug-safety-information-patients-and-providers/medications-containing-semaglutide-marketed-type-2-diabetes-or-weight-loss.
“Ozempic (SEMAGLUTIDE) FDA Approval History.” Drugs.com. Accessed September 5, 2023. https://www.drugs.com/history/ozempic.html.
Puckey, Melisa. “Semaglutide: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Brands.” Drugs.com, August 23, 2023. https://www.drugs.com/semaglutide.html.
Reynolds, Matt. “What the Scientists Who Pioneered Weight-Loss Drugs Want You to Know.” Wired, June 12, 2023. https://www.wired.com/story/obesity-drugs-researcher-interview-ozempic-wegovy/.

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