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Case Overview
People are filing lawsuits against the drug maker Novo Nordisk. The lawsuits allege that its diabetes and weight loss drugs may cause dangerous and potentially fatal health issues. The Novo Nordisk lawsuits claim the manufacturer failed to warn patients about serious side effects, including intestinal blockages, deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and stomach paralysis.
Important Novo Nordisk lawsuit updates
- March 2025: There were 1,521 pending cases in MDL No. 3094, which includes claims against Novo Nordisk and other drug manufacturers.
- July 2024: A new study linked semaglutide drugs to a side effect that may cause permanent vision loss and blindness.
- May 2024: Motley Rice attorneys Jonathan Orent and Sara Couch were court-appointed to MDL No. 3094 leadership.
- January 2024: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced an investigation into claims that GLP-1 RAs contribute to suicidal thoughts, hair loss and pulmonary aspiration risk.
Key takeaways about Novo Nordisk lawsuits
- Novo Nordisk manufactures diabetes and weight loss medications, such as Ozempic®, Rybelsus®, Saxenda®, Victoza® and Wegovy®.
- Plaintiffs in the Novo Nordisk lawsuits allege the drug manufacturer didn’t warn product users about severe side effects, including vision loss, necrotizing pancreatitis, gastroparesis, gastroenteritis, intestinal blockages and other serious health complications.
- Plaintiffs have filed more than 1,500 cases in the MDL as of March 2025.
Why are people filing Novo Nordisk lawsuits?
Novo Nordisk is a global healthcare company that develops treatments for chronic diseases like diabetes and obesity. The company is currently facing lawsuits centered around several of its medications.
Plaintiffs in the Novo Nordisk lawsuits allege the drug manufacturer didn’t warn patients and prescribing doctors about the possible severe side effects of taking these medications. Novo Nordisk manufactures the drugs Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus, Saxenda and Victoza.
- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Ozempic, Rybelsus and Victoza for treating type 2 diabetes.
- The FDA has approved Wygovy and Saxenda for chronic weight management.
Prescribing information for medications discloses warnings, precautions and adverse reactions. These lawsuits claim the company didn’t tell users that taking these medications could cause dangerous side effects.
For example, Novo Nordisk didn’t reveal risks of severe gastrointestinal events on Ozempic’s label. Known adverse effects of Ozempic include intestinal obstructions, gastroparesis and gastroenteritis. On Wegovy’s label, the manufacturer disclosed delayed gastric emptying as a possible “drug interaction,” rather than an adverse reaction. It claimed the medication may impact the absorption of other medications taken at the same time.
Plaintiffs are filing lawsuits to hold Novo Nordisk accountable for failing to warn patients and doctors about life-threatening side effects. The plaintiffs may be compensated for the dire health complications they endured from taking these drugs if their lawsuits are successful.
Plaintiff profile
A Pennsylvania woman represented by Motley Rice filed a lawsuit against Novo Nordisk. She alleged she suffered severe gastrointestinal issues from taking Wegovy. The woman was hospitalized for gastroparesis after taking the drug.
Gastroparesis is a weakening of the stomach muscles. It is also called delayed gastric emptying or stomach paralysis. This condition slows or stops food as it moves from the stomach to the small intestine.
The lawsuit is an example of a case where a victim’s health was severely impacted after Novo Nordisk allegedly failed to list gastrointestinal side effects on the drug’s warning label. The plaintiff also alleges the manufacturer participated in negligent misrepresentation and marketing.
Is Novo Nordisk facing a class action lawsuit?
No class action lawsuits are pending against Novo Nordisk. However, Novo Nordisk is currently part of multidistrict litigation (MDL).
Multidistrict litigation (MDL) is a court procedure used to streamline the legal process. Individual cases with some common defendants and facts are collected into one docket. Like class action lawsuits, both allow multiple plaintiffs with similar claims to consolidate their cases.
However, a class action lawsuit has an important difference. It is filed as a single lawsuit on behalf of a group or “class” of people. The people in the class have suffered similar harm or have similar legal claims against the same defendant(s). In an MDL, the lawsuits stay as individual cases and are handled separately in court.
An MDL was established in February 2024 in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. U.S. District Judge Karen Marston is the presiding judge over MDL No. 3094.
As of March 2025, more than 1,500 actions were pending in the MDL. The cases in the MDL include Novo Nordisk's five GLP-1 drugs, plus other drugs in the same class. These drugs include Zepbound®, Mounjaro® and Trulicity®.
In addition to Novo Nordisk, manufacturer Eli Lilly is a defendant in the lawsuit. Eli Lilly manufactures Zepbound, Mounjaro and Trulicity.
Who is eligible to file a lawsuit against Novo Nordisk?
People who have been prescribed a medication manufactured by Novo Nordisk and have experienced an undisclosed health issue may be eligible to file a lawsuit. People who might qualify for a case include those who:
- Were prescribed Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus, Saxenda or Victoza
- Followed instructions as directed
- Developed a serious side effect that wasn’t disclosed as a risk at the time
To file, you must have proof of a medical condition developed after taking one of these medications. Motley Rice is still actively accepting new cases in the MDL for those who are eligible. If you are not sure whether you qualify to be a plaintiff in a Novo Nordisk lawsuit, speak to an attorney to determine your legal options.
Contact a Novo Nordisk lawyer
If you or a loved one experienced an adverse side effect after taking a medication manufactured by Novo Nordisk, you may be eligible to file a lawsuit seeking compensation for your injuries.
Call 1.800.768.4026 to contact Novo Nordisk attorneys Sara O. Couch or Jonathan D. Orent for more information or to discuss a potential Novo Nordisk claim.
What damages may be available in Novo Nordisk lawsuits?
Hundreds of plaintiffs have filed lawsuits against Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly. Their claims are related to the manufacturers’ diabetes and weight loss drugs. More individuals are expected to file claims against the GLP-1 RA manufacturers in the coming months.
Through legal action, these plaintiffs are seeking damages to help cover:
- Lost wages
- Medical expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Punitive damages
The damages you might be entitled to will vary based on the details of your case. A lawyer with experience in diabetes litigation can assist you in determining the potential damages you could receive.
FAQs about Novo Nordisk products and litigation
Who makes Ozempic and Wegovy?
Novo Nordisk manufactures the semaglutide drugs Ozempic, Wegovy and Rybelsus. Semaglutide-based medications are regularly prescribed to treat diabetes and chronic weight management.
- Ozempic is a weekly injection approved in 2017 to treat type 2 diabetes.
- Wegovy is a weekly injection approved in 2021 for weight management.
- Rybelsus is a daily tablet approved in 2019 to treat type 2 diabetes.
Novo Nordisk also manufactures Saxenda and Victoza. They are GLP-1 receptor agonists that use liraglutide as the active ingredient instead of semaglutide. Saxenda is approved for chronic weight management, and Victoza is approved for type 2 diabetes treatment.
Are these medications still available despite the lawsuits?
Yes, Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus, Saxenda or Victoza are all FDA-approved and remain available for use in treating diabetes or managing chronic weight problems. It’s important to speak to your physician about your potential risk for serious complications before starting these medications.
Our diabetes and weight loss drug litigation experience
Motley Rice has knowledgeable medical attorneys who have represented people experiencing severe side effects from drugs manufactured by Novo Nordisk. If you believe a diabetes or weight loss drug has hurt you or someone you love, our attorneys may be able to help. Our attorneys can:
- Investigate if a Novo Nordisk medication or another diabetes drug could be the cause of your medical issues
- Review if the manufacturer failed to warn you about dangerous side effects
- Identify other issues that could impact your potential claim
- Identify potentially harmful medicines
- Review the medicine manufacturer’s compliance with FDA regulations
- Review the adequacy of the manufacturer's warning to you about potential side effects
- Recognize other issues that could affect your potential claim
Our team of medical drug attorneys is focused on delivering justice to those harmed.
Why are people filing Novo Nordisk lawsuits?
What damages may be available in Novo Nordisk lawsuits?
FAQs about Novo Nordisk products and litigation
Our diabetes and weight loss drug litigation experience
About the Author
Mike Daly
Member
Mike Daly brings substantial experience representing clients harmed by defective products, pharmaceutical drugs, medical devices, toxic substances, and corporate negligence in complex litigation.
- Sources
- CNN. FDA looking into reports of hair loss, suicidal thoughts in people using popular drugs for diabetes and weight loss.
- Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation. Pending MDLs.
- Mass General Brigham. Popular Prescription Weight Loss Drugs Linked to Uncommon Blinding Condition.
- Medline Plus. Liraglutide Injection.
- Novo Nordisk. Ozempic® (semaglutide) approved in the US.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. FDA approves first oral GLP-1 treatment for Type 2 diabetes.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. FDA Approves New Drug Treatment for Chronic Weight Management, First Since 2014.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. FDA approves new treatment for pediatric patients with Type 2 diabetes.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. FDA approves weight management drug for patients aged 12 and older.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Update on FDA’s ongoing evaluation of reports of suicidal thoughts or actions in patients taking a certain type of medicines approved for Type 2 diabetes and obesity.