Mass Tort Lawyers Advocating for Individuals Nationwide Injured by Weight-Loss Drugs
Ozempic and Wegovy are medications that have exploded in popularity for people seeking to lose weight. These drugs are made and sold by Novo Nordisk, a pharmaceutical giant that has spent countless dollars aggressively marketing the drugs on multiple platforms, including television and social media. But hundreds of lawsuits have been filed recently alleging that these drugs cause severe side effects and that Novo Nordisk failed to warn of these risks.
If you or your loved one has suffered harmful effects after taking Ozempic, Wegovy, or other drugs for weight loss, please contact Anapol Weiss immediately to discuss your legal options. Shareholder Alexandra Walsh leads the firm’s efforts to hold these drug manufacturers accountable and serves in a leading role in the litigation.
Ozempic and Wegovy Explained
Ozempic and Wegovy belong to a class of drugs known as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, which can help lower blood sugar and promote weight loss. Ozempic and Wegovy are chemically identical and differ primarily based on dosage.
The Food and Drug Administration has approved Ozempic for the treatment of Type-2 diabetes and some related conditions, and it has approved Wegovy for treating adults with obesity and at least one chronic health condition and adolescents aged 12 and older with obesity, along with a reduced-calorie meal plan and exercise.
Novo Nordisk’s Marketing
Since 2018, Novo Nordisk has engaged in a large-scale marketing campaign touting the weight-loss benefits of Ozempic and Wegovy. The company has spent close to a billion dollars on television advertisements alone, and it has also targeted consumers on social media, running thousands of advertisements on Facebook and Instagram. Novo Nordisk has also partnered with celebrities as paid spokespersons and has spent millions of dollars promoting the drug to U.S. medical professionals and paying doctors to speak about Ozempic and Wegovy.
The Undisclosed Risks Associated with Ozempic and Wegovy
The lawsuits against Novo Nordisk over Ozempic and Wegovy allege that Novo Nordisk failed to warn—on the drugs’ labels and in the advertising and promotional materials—about the known dangerous side effects of these drugs. These side effects include:
- Ileus (intestinal obstruction)
- Esophageal injuries
- Severe gastrointestinal injuries
- Deep vein thrombosis
- Intraoperative pulmonary aspiration (a potentially fatal complication that occurs when stomach contents are inhaled into the airway during anesthesia or surgery)
- Nonarteritic ischemic optic neuropathy (sudden, permanent vision loss)
Help for Ozempic Users Suffering From Nonarteritic Ischemic Optic Neuropathy (NAION)
If you developed a condition called nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) after using Ozempic or Wegovy, you’re not alone. In an article published in the journal JAMA Ophthalmology in May 2024, a group of researchers concluded that their observational study demonstrated an association between NAION and use of semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy.
NAION is characterized by a sudden, painless but usually permanent loss of vision, typically in one eye. This is due to reduced circulation of blood to the optic nerve, which causes the nerve to swell and sustain damage disrupting the ability of the eye to send information to the brain. Even after the swelling subsides, this damage lingers. The majority of patients diagnosed with NAION don’t see meaningful improvements in their vision.
Amid growing concerns over the link between Ozempic and nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, Anapol Weiss is here to help. Our experienced attorneys are prepared to represent patients who suffered from NAION after using semaglutide medications in claims seeking financial compensation for the devastating loss of their vision.
Litigation Involving Ozempic and Wegovy
The cases filed in federal court have been consolidated in a Multi-District Litigation (“MDL”) in Philadelphia. An MDL is a court procedure used to streamline multiple individual cases with common defendants and facts into one proceeding. The cases in the MDL include drugs other than Ozempic and Wegovy—Rybelsus, another Novo Nordisk drug, and Mounjaro and Trulicity, which are manufactured by Eli Lilly. Shareholder Alexandra Walsh serves in a key position on the Plaintiffs’ Executive Committee in the MDL as the Co-Chair of Trial Strategy.
Contact Anapol Weiss for a Free Case Evaluation
At Anapol Weiss, we are committed to representing victims of dangerous drugs across the nation. We offer a free initial consultation to discuss your case in detail and provide immediate assistance. Reach out to us today to explore your legal options. Let us help you navigate through this challenging time with skillful legal assistance and compassionate service.