Feb 20, 2024

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Video Details:
The popular diabetes medication Ozempic is being widely prescribed off-label for weight loss, but it is causing severe and lasting gastrointestinal injuries in many patients. Attorney Jonathan Sedgh with Morgan & Morgan provided an in-depth look at the growing Ozempic injury litigation on a recent episode of The Leverage Report.
Ozempic belongs to a class of drugs called GLP-1 receptor agonists that work by slowing down the digestive tract. In many patients, Ozempic goes far beyond just slowing digestion—it paralyzes the stomach, leading to gastroparesis.
With gastroparesis, food gets stuck in the digestive tract and cannot make it down into the small intestines to be properly digested. This undigested food can form into balls or clusters, leading to bowel obstructions and intestinal blockages. Patients experience severe and persistent vomiting, requiring emergency room visits and hospitalization for dehydration. They end up on IV fluids, unable to keep any food or liquids down.
For many patients, the debilitating gastrointestinal symptoms continue even after stopping Ozempic, indicating the drug has caused permanent damage. The main defendants in the growing litigation are Novo Nordisk, maker of Ozempic, and Eli Lilly, which makes the competing GLP-1 drug Trulicity.
So far, about 60 cases have been filed in federal court, but Morgan & Morgan alone is investigating over 10,000 potential cases. Sedge estimates there could be 50,000 to 60,000 potential cases nationwide based on the volume of inquiries they receive.
Due to the large number of federal cases, an MDL (multidistrict litigation) was recently created to consolidate the Ozempic lawsuits in front of the experienced Judge Pratter in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. This will help streamline the litigation process.
According to Sedgh, important criteria for Ozempic cases include:
- Treated at a hospital or ER for injuries like vomiting, dehydration
- Persistent vomiting for at least 1 month
- Off Ozempic when they learned of the risks and contact the law firm
He notes key challenges will be proving Ozempic directly caused the gastrointestinal injuries and combatting defense arguments that preexisting conditions like diabetes or obesity were the real cause. This litigation is gaining momentum with tens of thousands of potential cases. Sedgh provides invaluable insights into the Ozempic injury landscape that is still emerging. He stresses the importance of thoroughly screening cases and obtaining all necessary medical records for anyone considering getting involved.