In New Jersey, over 30 plaintiffs have filed lawsuits against Novo Nordisk, the pharmaceutical company behind Ozempic and Wegovy, alleging that the drugs increased the risk of developing a condition called Non-Arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy (NAION). NAION is a condition that leads to insufficient blood flow to the optic nerves. When blood flow to the optic nerve is reduced, you can lose your vision and go blind. In the New Jersey Ozempic lawsuits, the plaintiffs allege that they all developed NAION after using Ozempic and Wegovy, and that Novo Nordisk was aware of the risk and failed to warn consumers about the potential risks associated with the drugs.
What is Ozempic?
Ozempic is a brand name for the drug semaglutide, which is a medicine used by adults with type 2 diabetes that may help improve blood sugar. Ozempic works by mimicking a naturally occurring hormone, and as the hormone levels rise, they send a signal to your brain telling it that you are full. The medicine is administered as a weekly injection and is designed to help the pancreas produce more insulin. Although advertised as a drug to help improve blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes, many people use it as a weight loss drug due to its ability to make the brain think that you are full and slow digestion. While the active ingredient in Ozempic does work for weight loss, this off-label use of Ozempic is not FDA-approved.
The New Jersey Mass Tort Over Ozempic
In a June petition, the plaintiffs stated that their cases are before eight different judges in Middlesex County Superior Court. They requested that the cases be filed under an MCL (multi-county litigation) designation with a venue in Middlesex County to simplify matters. This is their state version of the federal counterpart, multi-district litigation (MDL). The petition is only asking for the MCL designation of any pending cases alleging vision loss due to taking Ozempic and does not include the cases against Novo Nordisk alleging gastrointestinal injuries, due to the cases relying on different search terms and different specialists’ opinions.
A Federal Lawsuit Over Ozempic
In addition to the possible new mass tort involving Novo Nordisk’s product Ozempic causing NAION, the company is also being sued in an Federal MDL lawsuit for Ozempic leading to severe gastrointestinal injuries in some users. The plaintiffs allege that Ozempic caused all of them to have various gastrointestinal injuries and that Novo Nordisk was aware of the risk and failed to properly warn users of the potential risk. Recent studies have shown that taking Ozempic, especially at higher doses, can cause gastroparesis, a chronic disorder where the stomach doesn’t empty properly, preventing food from moving normally into the small intestine. Until recently, the warning label for Ozempic did not accurately inform patients or doctors about the risk of gastrointestinal injuries. The lawsuit involving gastrointestinal injuries due to taking Ozempic is part of an MDL class action lawsuit, which also includes the medications Rybelsus, Wegovy, Trulicity, and Mounjaro.
Should I Contact a Product Liability Personal Injury Lawyer?
If you or a loved one has experienced gastrointestinal injuries or a loss of vision as a result of taking Ozempic, you may be eligible for compensation. When customers purchase a company’s product, they expect that the product will function exactly as the manufacturer stated. When you follow the instructions and the product causes you harm, you have the right to seek justice for your injuries from the negligent corporation. If you were diagnosed with NAION or gastrointestinal injuries due to taking Ozempic, you may be able to receive compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, diminished quality of life, and more. But to take on these multi-million dollar corporations, you need an experienced attorney. At Simmons and Fletcher, P.C., our product liability lawyers have worked with numerous survivors of product liability accidents whose daily lives were altered by the negligence of companies they thought they could trust. Our lawyers will help talk through your case and establish the best course of action to seek the justice you deserve. To schedule a free case evaluation, call (713) 932-0777.
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