UPDATE 7/9/24: Unfortunately, the Honorable Gene E.K. Pratter, the initial judge assigned to this matter, passed away on May 17, 2024. The Honorable Karen S. Marston, who was assigned to replace Judge Pratter, held her initial status conference on June 6, 2024. Since then, Judge Pratter has issued two orders. The first Order waives pro hace vice fees for all lawyers wishing to enter, so long as they file an affidavit or explanation of why they cannot file such an affidavit. The second Order outlined procedures and requirements for handling privileged documents, specifically regarding timing, content, exemptions, and challenges. The privilege logging structure is meant to support transparency and procedural fairness throughout the litigation.
What are the Weight-Loss Drug Lawsuits About?
Most of the weight-loss drug lawsuits you have been hearing about lately involve an active ingredient named semaglutide. In scientific terms, semaglutide is a type of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (“GLP-1 Ra”). GLP-1 Ras mimics the GLP-1 hormone and activate the GLP-1 receptor on the surface of certain human cells, such as in the pancreas, where these drugs slow gastric emptying and stimulate the release of insulin. That basically means that these drugs help you lose weight by making you feel full.
This class of drugs started out as a diabetes treatment. In 2017, drugmaker Novo Nordisk (headquartered in Plainfield, New Jersey) started selling Ozempic® in the United States. Ozempic® is administered through what is known as subcutaneous injection – generally, a patient injects themselves in the shallow tissue surrounding their abdomen. In 2019, Novo Nordisk started selling Rybelsus®, which was basically a pill form of Ozempic®, also for the treatment of diabetes. It soon became clear that semaglutide was a very potent weight-loss drug and doctors began prescribing it off label to people who did not have diabetes. Demand became so high that some individual pharmacies even began compounding their own semaglutide weight-loss treatments, leading to Novo Nordisk filing lawsuits against those compounding pharmacies. In 2021, Novo Nordisk started selling Wegovy®, which was basically a high-dosage version of Ozempic®, also meant to be injected. However, this time Novo Nordisk received approval to specifically market the semaglutide in Wegovy® for its weight-loss properties in adults.
These semaglutide drugs are “blockbuster drugs,” with revenues expected to exceed tens of billions of dollars. According to some claims, GLP-1 RAs have been prescribed to nearly two percent of the entire United States population. The widespread use, and resulting shortages, of these semaglutide weight-loss drugs has also contributed to the popularity of similar drugs, such as Trulicity® (dulaglutide) and Mounjaro® (tirzepatide), made by the drugmaker Eli Lilly.
Unfortunately, studies have shown that taking these drugs can cause severe side-effects and injuries.
Stark & Stark is a national law firm pursuing thousands of cases throughout the country. We are not a marketing group. Stark & Stark has been in business for over 80 years and has over 100 experienced attorneys in offices located throughout New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York, ready to talk to you about your potential claim. Please let us help you.
Do I Have an Ozempic® or Wegovy® Injury Claim?
Studies have shown that taking Ozempic®, Wegovy® and other semaglutide drugs can cause severe side-effects and injuries. Those injuries include, but are not limited to:
- Gastroparesis
- Stomach Paralysis
- Ileus
- Gastric Obstruction
- Other Gastrointestinal Injuries
- Intraoperative Pulmonary Aspiration
- Pancreatic Cancer
- Gallbladder Removal
- DVT Related Injuries
If you or a loved one:
- Have Taken Ozempic®, Wegovy® or Another Semaglutide Drug Specifically for Weight Loss; and
- Have Been Hospitalized and Treated for Any of the Above Injuries While Taking the Drugs or Within 30 Days of Stopping;
you may be entitled to compensation.
While we insist that you do not discontinue taking any medications before speaking with your doctor, we strongly recommend that you seek counsel experienced in Ozempic® or Wegovy® claims and injuries. Stark & Stark’s Ozempic® and Wegovy® attorneys are actively investigating Ozempic® and Wegovy® claims and seeking settlements on behalf of patients injured by these potentially defective drugs. Contact us at no cost to you.
Have Ozempic® And Wegovy® Class Action Lawsuits Been Filed?
Ozempic® and Wegovy® claims across the nation have been consolidated in a Multi-District Litigation (“MDL”), which centralizes pretrial activities for multiple cases to save time, court costs, and attorneys’ fees. MDL number 3094, entitled In Re: Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists (GLP-1 RAS) Products Liability Litigation, has been centralized in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia, under District Court Judge Gene E.K. Pratter. The MDL encompasses all personal injury claims involving Ozempic®, Wegovy®, Rybelsus®, Trulicity®, and/or Mounjaro®, regarding whether defendants (Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly) knew or should have known that their GLP-1 RA products could cause gastroparesis and other gastrointestinal injuries, whether defendants adequately warned plaintiffs or their prescribing physicians about the alleged dangers of these products, and whether defendants made false, misleading, or incomplete representations regarding the safety of these products.i,ii
Stark & Stark is committed to holding drug manufacturers liable when their products improperly endanger the public. Stark & Stark’s Ozempic® and Wegovy® attorneys are experienced in MDL litigations throughout the nation and in negotiating with medical device and pharmaceutical settlement representatives. We are not a marketing group. Stark & Stark is a law firm comprised of experienced trial lawyers. If you have an Ozempic® or Wegovy® claim, or you are uncertain and have questions about injuries that you may have suffered because of Ozempic®, Wegovy® or other semaglutide drugs, the attorneys at Stark & Stark can help. Contact us now for a free consultation.
i https://www.paed.uscourts.gov/mdl/mdl-3094-re-glucagon-peptide-1-receptor-agonists-glp-1-ras-products-liability-litigation
ii https://www.jpml.uscourts.gov/sites/jpml/files/MDL-3094-Transfer_Order-1-24.pdf
Contact an Ozempic® and Wegovy® Lawyer to Assess Your Claim.
If you or a member of your family has suffered injuries from Ozempic®, Wegovy® or another semaglutide drug, you may be entitled to compensation under the MDL litigation process or via settlement. Please contact Stark & Stark to speak with one of our Ozempic® and Wegovy® attorneys, free of charge, who can help walk you through the settlement and lawsuit process and assess any claims that you may have.
Please contact Stark & Stark today, free of charge. But do not wait, because there are different deadlines and statutes of limitations that apply to your claims.
