There are indeed class action claims and multidistrict litigation (MDL) cases filed against the makers of Ozempic related to severe side effects, including gastrointestinal injuries and gallbladder disease. While most of the litigation focuses on gastroparesis—a condition where the stomach cannot empty properly, causing nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain—there are also lawsuits alleging gallbladder-related complications such as cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal) linked to Ozempic use.
Ozempic is a GLP-1 receptor agonist drug primarily prescribed for type 2 diabetes but often used off-label for weight loss. Patients and plaintiffs in these lawsuits claim that the manufacturers, including Novo Nordisk, failed to adequately warn about serious risks, including gastroparesis and gallbladder disease. Some lawsuits specifically describe cases where patients developed gallbladder problems severe enough to require surgery after using Ozempic. These claims argue that the drug’s labeling and marketing did not sufficiently disclose these risks, leading to harm that could have been prevented with proper warnings.
The MDL No. 3094, centralized in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, consolidates thousands of cases involving Ozempic and other similar drugs like Wegovy and Mounjaro. While the majority of cases focus on gastroparesis and other gastrointestinal injuries, gallbladder disease is also part of the litigation landscape. For example, some plaintiffs have reported symptoms such as biliary colic and underwent gallbladder removal surgery, attributing these issues to Ozempic use. These cases highlight concerns about the drug’s impact on the digestive system beyond delayed gastric emptying.
The lawsuits generally claim that:
– Novo Nordisk and other manufacturers knew or should have known about these risks from clinical studies and adverse event reports.
– The companies failed to provide adequate warnings to patients and healthcare providers.
– The marketing of Ozempic downplayed the severity and likelihood of these side effects.
– Patients suffered severe, sometimes permanent, injuries including gastroparesis, gallbladder disease, and related complications.
Legal developments include motions by defendants to dismiss some claims, especially where plaintiffs cannot prove a direct causal link through diagnostic tests like gastric emptying studies. However, many cases remain active, with ongoing hearings and new filings continuing to add to the MDL docket.
In summary, there are active class action and multidistrict litigation claims against Ozempic manufacturers for gallbladder disease among other serious gastrointestinal injuries. These lawsuits seek compensation for medical costs, pain and suffering, and other damages resulting from alleged inadequate warnings and harmful side effects of the drug.
