Wegovy Lawsuit 2024: Everything You Need to Know

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Wegovy, made by the same company as Ozempic, is a prescription medication for adults with obesity, specifically people who have a body mass index of 30 or more. 

Although the U.S. FDA approved Wegovy as safe to use for weight loss in 2021, there have been a series of complaints and even lawsuits against Wegovy as further research into the drug uncovered more serious side effects than the company initially disclosed, such as stomach paralysis. 

This article will discuss everything you need to know about the Wegovy lawsuit. We will also guide you toward filing a lawsuit if you’ve been affected.

Is There a Wegovy Class Action Lawsuit?

There are currently no Wegovy class action lawsuits, but there is a pending multidistrict litigation (MDL) in the Federal Court in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 

While multidistrict litigations are similar to class action lawsuits, the former consolidates individual lawsuits across the country into one court. This approach allows for more efficient pre-trial proceedings, including discovery and motions, while preserving the unique aspects of each case. 

So, those affected by Wegovy can join the MDL to combine their efforts with others facing similar issues without losing the individuality of their claims. 

Have you or anyone you know been affected by Wegovy and you would like to take action? Contact the experts at Injury Lawyers Connect to explore your legal options and join forces with other plaintiffs to get justice.

What are the Wegovy Lawsuits About?

The Wegovy lawsuits are about seeking justice and holding the manufacturers of Wegovy—Novo Nordisk accountable for not fully disclosing the serious side effects of the medication. These side effects include stomach paralysis, deep vein thrombosis, and an intestinal inability to contract and pass waste, and they were only discovered after its FDA approval in 2021. 

These legal actions claim that Novo Nordisk, also known for producing Ozempic, was aware of these risks and failed to adequately inform users and healthcare professionals. The lawsuits aim to secure compensation for affected individuals, covering medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages, and other related damages. 

What is Wegovy and How Does It Work?

Wegovy is a weight loss drug containing high quantities of semaglutide—a drug component that has been linked with causing gastrointestinal issues. It is an injectable medication and is advised only to be taken by people who have a body mass index higher than 30. 

Wegovy works by stimulating the part of the brain associated with appetite to give users a false feeling of fullness and an absence of hunger. It also reduces the amount of sugar in one’s body by increasing the amount of insulin the body produces.

Wegovy Side Effects and Symptoms 

Wegovy is said to have serious side effects. Wegovy side effects, according to Novo Nordisk, are:

• Pancreatitis
• Gallbladder problems
• Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
• Kidney problems (kidney failure)
• Serious allergic reactions
• Change in vision
• Increased heart rate
• Depression or thoughts of suicide
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Constipation
• Stomach pain
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Upset stomach
• Dizziness
• Feeling bloated
• Belching
• Gas
• Stomach flu
• Heartburn
• Runny nose or sore throat

Long-term Side Effects of Wegovy Usage

Some other side effects and symptoms have been discovered from extended use of Wegovy, and these are:

• Gastroparesis
• Intestinal obstructions
• Persistent vomiting
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
• Damage to the esophagus
• Ileus (lack of intestinal movement)
• Pulmonary aspiration during surgery
• Disorders related to malnutrition
• Pancreatic cancer

Wegovy Lawsuit: You Need to Know

Here are some things you need to know about the Wegovy lawsuit.

Wegovy lawsuit updates in 2024

As of 2024, 55 cases had been filed against Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of Wegovy, Ozempic, and Rybelsus. In February, the U.S. judicial panel on multidistrict litigation ordered the cases to be combined and centralized in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. This marked the start of the Wegovy Multidistrict Litigation (Wegovy MDL). 

Judge Pratter, a highly regarded federal district court judge, has been appointed to oversee the case—MDL 3094 In Re: Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists Products Liability Litigation. The case is not for only Wegovy as it includes several other GLP 1 agonist products. However, there is more focus on Wegovy as Wegovy has a very high quantity of Semaglutide, a strong GLP 1 agonist.

A status conference has also been held with Judge Pratter and the plaintiffs’ lawyers to hear proposals on how to bring the thousands of cases expected forward. There are also plans to hold a science day to discuss the scientific issues surrounding Wegovy use. 

Wegovy lawsuit updates in 2023

Wegovy lawsuits started springing up in 2023, right after research by Mohit Sodhi and his team was published in the American Medical Association Journal in 2023. The research uncovered that GLP-1 agonists, a class of drugs that a major ingredient in Wegovy (Semaglutide) falls under, increase the risk of bowel obstruction and gastroparesis. 

Eligibility Criteria for Filing a Wegovy Lawsuit

You might be eligible to file a lawsuit if you or someone close to you has:

• Used Wegovy, Ozempic, or Rybelsus (Semaglutide drugs produced by Novo Nordisk) for weight loss
• Suffered serious health complications linked to the drug
• Been hospitalized, visited the ER, or required follow-up with a gastroenterologist due to your injury

Evidence to Gather Before Filing Your Lawsuit

The pieces of evidence to gather before filing your Wegovy lawsuit are: 

• Medical records detailing your treatment and condition
• Testimony from healthcare providers or witnesses
• Documentation of your experiences and injuries related to Wegovy use

Statute of Limitations for Filing a Wegovy Lawsuit

Statutes of limitations vary by state and limit the time frame for filing a Wegovy lawsuit. So, you must act fast to ensure your lawsuits are filed on time.

Wegovy Settlement and Payout Amounts

Based on expert speculations, Wegovy settlements and payouts will likely range from $250,000 to $700,000. However, the amount awarded to each individual will vary depending on the specifics of their case. 

These specifics may range from the severity of the side effects experienced to the extent of medical treatment required, loss of income, and the impact of Wegovy’s side effects on the plaintiff’s quality of life.

Who Can File a Semaglutide Wegovy Lawsuit?

People who have used Wegovy and Ozempic as weight loss drugs and have suffered adverse effects from any of them can file a Semaglutide Wegovy lawsuit. 

The individual filing the court case should also meet all of the eligibility criteria for filing and possess all the evidence to gather before filing.

How to File Wegovy Lawsuits

Want to file a Wegovy lawsuit? Here’s how you can go about it:

1. Confirm Wegovy Lawsuit Eligibility

Not everyone can file a Wegovy lawsuit, even if they take Wegovy and suffer serious side effects, as the court will need to be sure that your symptoms or side effects are not malnutrition-related or that your administration of the drug was not wrong. 

To be eligible, you should be able to prove that your health complications are linked to the drug. Also, you must have evidence of hospitalization or proof that you have visited the emergency room or required a follow-up with a gastroenterologist due to your injury from using Wegovy. 

2. Meet with a Wegovy Lawyer

At Injury Lawyers Connect, we’ll connect you with experienced lawyers who specialize in handling Wegovy litigations and offer expert advice on the eligibility and strength of your claims. 

Your Wegovy lawyer will carefully review the details of your Wegovy case, from your medical records to all additional evidence that shows that you have suffered serious side effects from regular use of Wegovy. They will also enlighten you on the case’s legal process, the potential settlement and payout you may be entitled to, and how to file your lawsuit.

3. Build Your Case 

After confirming that you are eligible to file a Wegovy lawsuit, your lawyer will help you build your case. This process involves consolidating all the necessary documents and accompanying evidence that support your case, including your medical records, evidence of your treatments and hospital visits, and reports from your healthcare provider stating your medical history and how Wegovy has negatively impacted your health. 

Your lawyer may also include photographs where applicable and a record of a personal account of the impact of Wegovy on your health and life. 

4. File Your Wegovy Claim

Once a strong case has been built for you, your lawyer will proceed to file your claim against Wegovy manufacturer, Novo Nordisk. They will draft and submit a legal complaint to the court, outlining the basis of your lawsuit, including the specific damages. 

Once this is done, your lawsuit enters the legal system, and Novo Nordisk will be served with your complaint, marking the commencement of the legal proceedings. Your Wegovy lawyer will also continue to guide you through the entire lawsuit process and represent your interest in all negotiations, pre-trial activities, and the main trial. 

What to Look for In a Wegovy Lawyer

Every Wegovy case is personal due to its health impact on individuals. If you’re looking to file a Wegovy case, you need to choose a Wegovy lawyer with the capacity and willingness to protect your interests. These pointers can help you choose the best Wegovy lawyer.

Law Firm Experience 

Experience in injury law is one of the most important factors to consider when choosing a Wegovy lawyer, and here’s why: They are experts at navigating the complexities of different litigations and will certainly give you a better chance of getting a favorable ruling on your case. 

At Injury Lawyers Connect, we’ll help you find lawyers with years of experience who have not only won tons of cases exactly like yours but also have profound degrees from the top law schools.

Pharmaceutical Track Records

A Wegovy lawyer with some experience in pharmaceutical litigation will give you an added advantage, as the Wegovy case is pharmaceutical. Why? Lawyers with pharmaceutical litigation experience deeply understand the linguistics, specifics, and uniqueness of pharmaceutical litigations and will use this knowledge to strengthen your case. 

Education

Your lawyer’s proficiency in the courtroom will significantly influence how their arguments are accessed; more often than not, proficiency is linked with the lawyer’s quality of education. So, if you want to increase the strength of your argument in the courtroom, you should select a Wegovy lawyer with a stellar educational background.

Let us find the right Wegovy lawyers for you.  

More About Wegovy Lawsuits

Here’s more information on the Wegovy lawsuits:

Is There a Lawsuit Against Ozempic and Wegovy?

Yes, there’s a multidistrict litigation against Ozembic and Wegovy. However, this multi-district litigation (MDL) also includes other drugs that fall into the GLP-1 agonist class. 

How Much is the Ozempic Lawsuit Going to Payout

The Ozempic lawsuit’s payout is expected to be between $250,000 to $700,000. However, this depends on the specifics of each plaintiff’s case.

Who Makes Wegovy?

Wegovy is made by Novo Nordisk, the same company that makes Ozempic and Rybelsus.

Is Ozempic and Wegovy the Same Drug?

No, Ozempic was made as a medication for people with Type 2 Diabetes. However, it was found to be effective for weight loss, so Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of Ozempic, produced Wegovy with higher amounts of Semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic, specifically for weight loss.

Wegovy Ingredient Breakdown

According to information from the FDA, the active ingredient in Wegovy is semaglutide. Other ingredients are disodium Phosphate Dihydrate, Sodium Chloride, and water for injection. Hydrochloric acid or sodium hydroxide may be added to adjust pH.

Contact a Wegovy Lawyer to File a Claim

Wegovy has negatively affected the lives of many people who only wanted to lose some weight to reduce their risk of obesity-related illnesses.

If you’ve suffered any serious side effects from using Wegovy, you need to see a healthcare practitioner and get the medical care you need. This would not just help improve your health but also increase your eligibility to file a Wegovy case and strengthen your case. Make sure you document all your hospital visits as they will serve as evidence in your case. 

Once you have started receiving medical care, you can explore your legal options with an experienced lawyer. 

At Injury Lawyers Connect, we’ll help you find the best Wegovy lawyers who have decades of experience in preparing, defending, and winning pharmaceutical-related cases for clients. From the initial case prep to the final verdict or settlement, they will guide you, providing legal advice and building the strongest case possible.

Ready to file your Wegovy litigation? 

Get started at Injury Lawyers Connect.

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