Corporate greed injured you, possibly beyond repair. Drug manufacturers have a responsibility to those taking their medications. They must ensure they are safe and effective. Unfortunately, this does not always occur. The manufacturer of Ozempic failed in its duty to you and deserves to be held accountable.
However, standing up to a large pharmaceutical company can be impossible on your own. Our Ozempic lawsuit lawyers are here to fight for you. We bring the following to the table:
- Over 20 years of experience taking on large manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies—and winning
- A team of experts (e.g., specialists, industry experts, and physicians)
We call this the Gold Standard of Injury Law. You aren’t just a case to us. You are a human being with a family and friends who rely on and value you. You are someone who was injured by a product you trusted. You deserve justice. And we’ll never stop fighting for you.
Getting Help is Easy
Ozempic is a medication approved by the FDA for type 2 diabetes management. It works by helping the pancreas create more insulin, which, in turn, lowers the person’s blood sugar.
A Trusted, Experienced Partner
At Goldwater Law Firm, we work with a trusted network of industry experts and experienced attorneys who can help you navigate the legal process and stand up to big corporations on your behalf.
No Fees Unless We Win
When you contact us, you never have to worry about whether or not you can afford an attorney. It’s 100% free to find out if you may qualify and you won’t owe us anything unless we win for you. We don’t get paid unless you get paid.
Can I Afford Your Help With an Ozempic Lawsuit?
Yes. We handle all injury cases on a contingency-fee basis. We take your case with no upfront fees. You only pay us if and when you win. There is no risk when you work with us.
What Are the Illnesses Associated with Ozempic Use?
Several illnesses have been linked to semaglutide, including:
Gastroparesis
Several studies, including a study in JAMA, have explored the relationship between semaglutide and gastroparesis, an incurable gastrointestinal condition. The JAMA study found an increased risk of gastroparesis, bowel obstruction, and pancreatitis in semaglutide users when compared with bupropion-naltrexone.
The symptoms of gastroparesis include:
- Nausea and vomiting undigested food
- Problems digesting food
- Abdominal pain and bloating
- Lack of appetite and a feeling of being full after only eating a couple bites of food
- Extreme weight loss
- Acid reflux
- Fluctuating blood sugar levels
- Malnutrition
Gastroparesis also comes with several complications, including:
- Malnutrition: Vomiting or a lack of appetite can lead to issues with nutrition.
- Severe dehydration: This is due to the vomiting that may happen.
- Hardened, undigested food: Gastroparesis is “delayed gastric emptying,” which means that food doesn’t leave the stomach in a normal amount of time. If the food doesn’t leave the stomach properly, it creates a hardened mass called a bezoar. These can become intestinal obstructions that prevent food from getting to the small intestine. They can also lead to nausea and vomiting.
- Fluctuating blood sugar levels: Unpredictable blood sugar levels can have several complications. They can make diabetes and gastroparesis worse. Low blood sugar levels can lead to dizziness, seizures, coma, or death.
All of these symptoms and complications can contribute to a substandard quality of life.
Intestinal obstruction
Semaglutide slows down the digestive progress, which means that food stays in the body longer. That is where the issues start. This can lead to undigested food remaining in the body for days at a time. This can cause an intestinal blockage.
In September 2023, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) updated Ozempic’s warning label to include the potential for intestinal blockages. According to CBS News, two people have died after using Ozempic. Bowel obstructions can also be due to ileus, a condition that can occur with Ozempic use.
Other Conditions Associated with Semaglutide
The FDA has also been “evaluating the need for regulatory action” after receiving reports of alopecia, aspiration, and suicidal ideation in 2023. Ozempic users have also reported pancreatitis, constipation, gallstone attacks, gallbladder disease, cholelithiasis, and cholecystitis.
The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) has received almost 30,000 event reports about semaglutide drugs.
Ozempic Contraindications
Ozempic is also contraindicated with dozens of other medications, including insulin and metformin.
What Is the Ozempic Lawsuit?
There are currently two separate Ozempic MDLs, filed in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
The first lawsuit filed against Ozempic was based on a failure to warn.
Plaintiffs are alleging that Ozempic caused them to suffer from gastroparesis (also known as stomach paralysis). Gastroparesis is incurable but can be treated and managed. This means that those who develop gastroparesis often suffer for the rest of their lives.
The first New Jersey lawsuit claimed that using Ozempic caused a gallbladder injury that required surgery.
Other injuries that have been reported with Ozempic use include:
- Persistent vomiting
- Gastric injury
- Ileus
- Gastroparesis/stomach paralysis
- Pulmonary aspiration (from anesthesia/surgery),
- Pancreatic cancer
- Deep Vein Thrombosis(DVT)
Our team can help you determine whether you qualify for the Ozempic lawsuit.
Ozempic Lawsuit Updates
The semaglutide lawsuit is still in its early stages, but we will continue to update this page as updates come in.
June 3, 2024
Movement on the MDL has slowed while the MDL Panel chooses a new judge. The MDL could be reassigned to a different court entirely. However, plaintiffs’ attorneys have stated that they are still working behind the scenes with the defense due, in large part, to the fact that District Judge Pratter established the plaintiffs’ leadership structure before her passing. Approximately 100 cases have been filed in this MDL, but attorneys expect more than 10,000 semaglutide cases to be filed.
May 21, 2024
Case Management #5, which had ordered a “Science Day” was vacated. The Science Day, scheduled for June 14, 2024 has also been canceled. The Science Day was to cover what diseases semaglutide treats, how semaglutide works and the history of its approval, illnesses and conditions associated with semaglutide usage, and studies associated with semaglutide.
May 17, 2024
Tragically, the judge overseeing the MDL, United States District Judge Gene E.K. Pratter, passed away. The MDL is awaiting reassignment.
April 23, 2024
Case Management Order #4 granted the Joint Motion for the Entry of Preservation Order. Case Management Order #3 named the Liaison Counsel for Plaintiffs and appointed several attorneys to the Plaintiffs’ Committee.
March 14, 2024
The first status conference occurred.
February 16, 2024
Case Management Order #2 waived the pro hac vice fees.
February 15, 2024
Case Management Order #1 notified all involved parties of the initial organizational conference for the MDL.
February 2, 2024
Fifty-five semaglutide cases were centralized in a multidistrict litigation (MDL) in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania (MDL 3094). This MDL applies to Ozempic and Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists. The panel assigned the case in Pennsylvania, in part, because of its proximity to manufacturer Novo Nordisk’s headquarters in Plainfield, New Jersey. The lawsuits claim that “many of the witnesses and documents relating to the sales and marketing, regulatory affairs, and safety and pharmacovigilance of Novo Nordisk’s products will be located there.”
August, 2023
The first lawsuit has been filed against Ozempic’s manufacturer, Novo Nordisk.
Ozempic Lawsuit FAQs
No amount of money will take away what happened to you. However, it can help you get the treatment you need and possibly hold a careless manufacturer liable. What you can recover depends on the specifics of your situation. We might be able to help you get some or all of the following:
- Current and future medical bills, such as treatment costs, surgery, emergency care, ongoing treatment costs, medications, and copays
- Lost wages
- Lost earning capacity
- Any other out-of-pocket expenses related to your use of Ozempic
- Pain and suffering
If you lost a loved one to side effects or complications from Ozempic use, please accept our condolences. Our team can fight for justice on your loved one’s behalf.
There is no way to determine how much your case is worth without investigating your situation and your losses. However, certain factors can impact what your case could be worth:
- The severity of your illness
- The treatment you need
- Whether you are able to go back to work
- Whether you need to take a lower-paying job or work part-time
- Your pain and suffering
You may qualify for the Ozempic MDL if:
- You can prove you used the medication.
- You received a diagnosis of a serious illness, such as gastroparesis or ileus, within six months of stopping the medication.
Serious conditions that could qualify you for a lawsuit include:
- Persistent vomiting for longer than four weeks
- Gastric Injury
- Ileus
- Gastroparesis/Stomach Paralysis
- Pulmonary Aspiration (associated with anesthesia/surgery)
- Pancreatic Cancer
- Deep Vein Thrombosis(DVT)
Ozempic is a type of drug known as a Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonist (GLP-1 agonist). These drugs help to regulate blood sugar. While Ozempic is approved for diabetes management, other GLP-1 agonists are used for weight loss.
Ozempic is a medication approved by the FDA for type 2 diabetes management. It works by helping the pancreas create more insulin, which, in turn, lowers the person’s blood sugar.
However, people often use it for weight loss. Ozempic imitates a hormone that occurs naturally in the body. Semaglutide tricks the brain into thinking that it’s full and slows digestion by increasing how long it takes food to leave the body.
Just diagnosing a medical condition related to Ozempic use can be costly, both financially and physically. You may need an endoscopy or ultrasound or gastric emptying tests.
For example, gastroparesis treatment can include:
- Changes to your diet and lifestyle: Your doctor may recommend that you change your diet and the way you eat entirely. One suggestion a doctor might make could include eating several smaller meals rather than three standard meals. You may be unable to eat raw vegetables, oranges, or broccoli. Your doctor may also suggest that you include things like pureed baby food in your diet or quit smoking and drinking carbonated beverages.
- Gastric electrical stimulation and pacing: This involves implanting a “gastric stimulator” under the skin in your abdomen. It delivers electrical impulses to your gastric muscles to treat nausea and vomiting.
- Medications: Your doctor may prescribe medications to stimulate your stomach muscles or prevent nausea and vomiting.
- Surgery: If your body refuses food or liquids, your doctor may suggest surgical placement of a feeding tube or gastric venting tube.
Treatment for these conditions can be astronomical. You shouldn’t have to pay them. Our personal injury lawyers want to get you the compensation to which you may be entitled.
Get Help From an Ozempic Lawsuit Attorney Today
If you suffered serious side effects from Ozempic, you may deserve compensation.
We’ll advocate for you, seeking justice and compensation. Call us today to see how we can help you during a free consultation.