The Allegations
Morgan & Morgan has filed six cases, alleging that Ozempic. , known generically as semaglutide, or its sister drugs caused severe side effects. These include gastrointestinal issues such as vomiting that persisted for more than a month and required emergency room visits or hospitalization. Further, they argue that the manufacturers failed to fully disclose these side effects. Instead, they encourage people to forgo lifestyle changes in favor of these powerful, dangerous, and expensive drugs.
Manufacturer Response
A spokesperson for the manufacturer said by email that the company does not comment on pending litigation, but that patient safety is the top priority. They continue, saying the known risks associated with use of Ozempic are reflected in its FDA-approved product labeling. Additionally, they state that the company works closely with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to continuously monitor the safety of Ozempic.
An (In)Adequate Warning
One of the key issues is if the drugs’ labels adequately warn of the risk of taking the medicines. The plaintiffs also ask if the prescribing doctors would have made a different decision if such additional warnings had been made clear. While nausea and vomiting are listed as side effects, they fail to mention the risk of gastroparesis, or paralysis of stomach muscles. In many instances users continue to experience debilitating effects even after discontinuing the medications, feeling constantly nauseous and limited in what they can eat.
Past Successes
Lawsuits against drug makers for failing to warn of side effects have yielded enormous payouts in the past, including the diet drug fen-phen. In 1997, fen-phen was pulled from the market after studies found an association with serious, even fatal heart valve problems. Fen-phen maker American Home Products Corp, now part of Pfizer , shelled out more than $21 billion to resolve the litigation. There are obvious differences between fen-phen and Ozempic in the pervasiveness and severity of the alleged side-effects, as well as the warnings to patients. However, an attorney who was co-lead trial counsel in the New Jersey fen-phen medical monitoring case sees some parallels.
