A Danish pharmaceutical company called Novo Nordisk is the manufacturer of Ozempic. It’s become one of the wealthiest companies in the world thanks to its development of Ozempic and Wegovy. Novo Nordisk goes as far back as 1922 and is credited with discovering insulin.

They launched the first insulin pen in 1985 and have continued their research into the treatment of diabetes. In 2017, the FDA approved Ozempic for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

The plaintiffs in various lawsuits against Ozempic state that the drug causes a dangerous condition called gastroparesis. This is a chronic issue in which the muscles and nerves in the stomach wall weaken severely, making it difficult for food to move into the intestines. It can result in intestinal obstructions.

Gastroparesis can’t be cured; it can only be managed. Plaintiffs claim that the manufacturer downplayed or hid the risks of gastroparesis.

Other potential lawsuits involve gallbladder disease. Ozempic may increase the risk of developing this disease. Although these lawsuits are still not filed against Novo Nordisk, they may be in the future.

When you turn to us at Garces, Grabler & LeBrocq, you don’t have to worry about upfront fees. That’s because we work on a contingency fee basis. This means that we don’t get paid unless you do. The last thing we want to do is put more of a financial strain on you when you’re dealing with medical expenses.

Semaglutide, which is Ozempic’s main ingredient, has been linked to the development of gastroparesis. Patients noticed that they were vomiting days-old food that had never moved to the intestines, and doctors also noticed that people who’d been taking Ozempic had full stomachs during endoscopies.

The crux of the problem is not only whether the drug causes the condition but whether Novo Nordisk knew and kept it from consumers.

There are a number of possible illnesses that you can suffer if you’ve taken Ozempic. Gastroparesis is one of the most common ones, but you can also suffer from pancreatitis, which is an inflammation of the pancreas and can cause symptoms like nausea, fever, vomiting, and abdominal pain.

Ozempic may also lead to kidney problems, including acute kidney injury, decline in kidney function, and renal impairment. It’s important for people who have kidney disease to be closely monitored when taking Ozempic because of the drug’s potential to make the problem worse.

Ozempic has also been linked to ileus, a condition in which the intestines stop working and are unable to pass waste.

There’s also a link to malnutrition issues that occur from gastroparesis, potentially leading to other illnesses.

Ozempic isn’t approved for weight loss, just the treatment of type 2 diabetes, but semaglutide, its main ingredient, is approved for it under the name of Wegovy. That said, some doctors still prescribe Ozempic for weight loss.

Wegovy has a higher dose of semaglutide than Ozempic, which is why it can offer faster results.

Ozempic works by mimicking a naturally occurring hormone. As the levels of the hormone rise, it alerts your brain that you’re full. The drug also slows digestion, increasing the time it takes for food to leave your body. 

It’s crucial to understand that your body can get used to the drug after a while, causing your weight to plateau.

Each claim is unique, which is why it’s so crucial that you reach out to a lawyer as soon as possible to get an assessment of the kind of compensation you can get in a mass tort.

Generally, you’ll be able to claim economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages are those that have a clear value attached to them. The most common are medical expenses. These can cover hospital bills, medication costs, and anything else related to your treatment. If you suffer illnesses and injuries that require ongoing care, medical expenses will also cover future costs.

Suffering a serious injury because of Ozempic can also cause you to miss work. This means that you won’t make the wages that you would otherwise have gotten. That’s a loss you can claim. If the injuries are severe enough that you won’t be able to continue working, you can get compensation for future wages.

Non-economic damages are a bit more difficult to quantify. The most common of these is pain and suffering, which focuses on addressing the physical and emotional distress you’ve been through because of Ozempic. The severity of the injuries you’ve sustained will dictate how much compensation you receive.

Loss of enjoyment of life is another non-economic damage you can claim. If you’re not able to live your life the way you used to because of the effects of Ozempic, then it’s possible to get compensation for that, too.

For those who have lost a loved one because of this medication, loss of consortium is available, as well. It attempts to compensate you for the loss of companionships and support you’d otherwise have had.

It’s essential that you reach out to a lawyer to get a good sense of the kind of compensation you can get if you join a mass tort.

There is no set time limit for a mass tort because each claim has its own unique challenges. Some mass torts take just a few weeks to resolve, while others can take significantly longer. Determining factors might include the number of plaintiffs involved, for example.

When you come to us for a consultation, we can tell you more about the process and what you can expect.