Wegovy, Ozempic, and other Weight-loss Drugs & Lawsuits

Ozempic. Wegovy. Mounjaro. Trulicity. Rybelsus. Victoza. Zepbound.

You might be hearing a lot in the news lately about these medications. Perhaps you’ve had a conversation about them with your doctor, and maybe you’ve tried one or are contemplating it. 

These drugs belong to a class of pharmaceuticals called GLP-1 agonists, or glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists. These drugs mimic the effects of the natural hormone GLP-1 and they’re used to manage blood sugar, reduce appetite and promote weight loss, particularly for people with type 2 diabetes. 

The technical details: A GLP-1 drug can stimulate the pancreas to release insulin if the person’s blood sugar level is high. This reduces the amount of sugar produced by the liver and slows digestion. The person feels fuller longer, which reduces their appetite. GLP-1 drugs aren’t new. They were approved in 2005 for diabetes treatment. The first was Byetta, followed by Victoza in 2010 and Ozempic in 2017. At that time, they were not used for weight loss.

In 2014, the FDA approved Saxenda for weight loss; it was followed by semaglutide (Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro) in 2021 and 2022, respectively. Ozempic was approved for weight loss in 2021, but it’s not approved for weight loss in individuals who don’t have diabetes. Ozempic and Wegovy are both semaglutides, but only Wegovy is approved for non-diabetic weight loss.

Types of GLP-1 medications

Type of GLP-1	Brand name
Semaglutide	Ozempic, Wegovy
Dulaglutide	Trulicity
Tirzepatide	Mounjaro, Zepbound
Liraglutide	Saxenda, Victoza

Ozempic and Wegovy lawsuits

Ozempic (the brand name of semaglutide) is alleged to be less safe than originally believed. Numerous lawsuits against its manufacturer, Novo Nordisk, are currently pending. Novo Nordisk also manufactures Rybelsus and Wegovy; other pharmaceutical companies manufacture similar products.

Health issues and side effects of Ozempic and Wegovy

Patients taking Ozempic and Wegovy report serious gastrointestinal conditions and complications. They include:

• Gastroparesis (stomach paralysis), a condition that slows the movement of food from the stomach to the small intestine, causing nausea, vomiting, and bloating
• Persistent vomiting or gastrointestinal pain
• Gallbladder disease
• Pancreatitis
• Intestinal blockages
• Bowel obstruction
• Malnutrition
• Non-arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy (NAION) vision loss

Patients report requiring hospitalization, surgery, or long-term medical conditions caused by these complications.

Claims in Ozempic and Wegovy lawsuits

Lawsuits by patients who were injured by Ozempic, Wegovy and other semaglutides claim:

• Patients and doctors were not adequately warned about the risk of gastroparesis and other serious side effects;
• The companies marketed the drugs aggressively without sufficient disclosure of potential harms; and
• The side effects led to long-term health issues, financial losses, and emotional distress.

Latest developments in weight-loss drug lawsuits (2025)

As of August 2025, more than 1,800 lawsuits have been filed against Novo Nordisk over Ozempic, Wegovy, and related GLP-1 drugs, with potential damages estimated to exceed $2 billion. The cases are consolidated in multidistrict litigation (MDL) in Pennsylvania, and the first bellwether trials are expected in early 2026.

Patients allege that the drugs caused stomach paralysis, intestinal blockages, gallbladder disease, sudden vision loss (NAION), pancreatitis, kidney injury, and other complications. Research studies, including a 2023 JAMA Internal Medicine report, are being used as evidence to link GLP-1 drugs with these conditions.

Novo Nordisk continues to deny wrongdoing, but the outcomes of the early trials could determine whether the company pursues a large global settlement.

What happens next?

• Discovery phase continues: Both sides are reviewing medical studies, internal drug-safety documents, and FDA adverse event reports.
• Bellwether trials: A handful of test cases will be tried first in 2026. Their results will show how juries respond to the evidence and shape future negotiations.
• Settlement talks: If juries side with plaintiffs in early cases, Novo Nordisk could be pressured into a large settlement covering thousands of claims.
• Possible expansion of claims: Attorneys are also reviewing emerging reports of kidney injury, hair loss, and emotional distress for inclusion in the litigation.

The next 12 to 18 months are expected to be critical in determining how much responsibility Novo Nordisk will bear — and what compensation patients may receive.

If these drugs have been used for many years, why are these complaints coming out now?

Ozempic and Wegovy cost about $1,300 per month. When they first became available, they were not covered by health insurance for weight loss treatment. The only patients who could use the drugs were those willing to pay out of pocket. Now, insurers do cover Wegovy for weight loss because it’s believed that obese patients who lose weight will become healthier overall. Some insurers still don’t cover it for this purpose, and Medicare began covering Wegovy for weight loss as recently as 2024; even then, there are specific qualifications for a patient to be covered. 

This is why complaints are appearing now—many more people are taking the drugs, now that they are approved for more general uses and are covered by insurance. And the more people take a drug, the more side effects will begin to appear. 

Although gastroparesis is the primary focus of the GLP-1 lawsuits, some patients claim to have experienced abdominal pain, constipation, nausea, food intolerance, and other symptoms related to ileus and other intestinal issues.

Should you file an Ozempic, Wegovy, or GLP-1 lawsuit?

You might be eligible for an Ozempic, Wegovy or other GLP-1 lawsuit if you:

1. Took one of these drugs as prescribed by your medical provider; 
2. Were diagnosed with a serious illness like gastroparesis or pancreatitis, or another condition associated with GLP-1 drugs; and 
3. You suffered physical, emotional, or financial harm as a result.

If you become a plaintiff in a GLP-1 lawsuit (or any lawsuit related to pharmaceutical liability), you can expect that your lawyer will analyze your medical records, including:

• When and for how long you used the drug
• The diagnosis that led to having a GLP-1 prescribed
• The diagnosis of the resulting illness or injury 
• Hospitalizations, procedures, or long-term complications

Your medical records must show a direct link between the drug and your illness. 

The lawsuit will include discovery, which will involve medical records and expert opinions; depositions; settlement negotiations; and potentially a trial if the parties cannot reach an agreement. 

The legal process could take years to complete, but a lawsuit might hold a drug company accountable and provide compensation for your suffering.

If you believe you’ve suffered an illness or condition as a result of taking Ozempic, Wegovy, or another GLP-1 drug, you can contact a personal injury lawyer for more information about your legal options to receive compensation.