Trulicity® Lawsuit

Lawsuits against Eli Lilly allege the manufacturer was aware or should’ve been aware of dangerous side effects associated with Trulicity (dulaglutide) and other GLP-1 RA drugs. Eli Lilly failed to warn consumers, including many who now suffer from severe health conditions, plaintiffs argue. 

The Trulicity® lawsuit is a part of a MDL that includes several other type 2 diabetes medications and prescription weight-loss medications. Eli Lilly also faces litigation concerning Mounjaro® and Zepbound® — brand names for the drug tirzepatide.

In addition, drug manufacturer Novo Nordisk faces lawsuits over injuries that users allege were caused by its GLP-1 medications, including Ozempic® and Wegovy® (both generically called semaglutide) and their predecessors.

What is the Trulicity MDL?

The Trulicity MDL is a mass tort litigation lawsuit. Plaintiffs have brought claims against Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk for injuries allegedly caused by GLP-1 RA medications.

The MDL names several drugs, including Trulicity, Mounjaro, Ozempic and Wegovy. The lawsuits claim the medications lead to gastrointestinal injuries and other severe side effects. The lawsuits also allege that Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk didn’t warn patients or prescribing doctors about dangerous side effects. Additionally, the companies are accused of making false and misleading statements about the medications’ safety.

Motley Rice is among the law firms that argued for the creation of the GLP-1 RA multidistrict litigation, which originated in February 2024. The case was initially assigned to U.S. District Judge Gene E.K. Pratter. However, Pratter unexpectedly died in May. In June, U.S. District Judge Karen Marston was named Pratter’s replacement.

As of January 2, 2025, the MDL currently includes more than 1,331 pending actions. Lawyers for the cases expect the lawsuit to eventually contain more than 10,000 claims. Litigation is still in the beginning stages, and new plaintiffs can still join the lawsuit. As of now, all related cases have yet to go to trial or be resolved.

No Trulicity class action lawsuits have been filed. Instead, GLP-1 RA medication personal injury cases are being consolidated into an MDL. 

Class actions and MDLs differ. With a class action lawsuit, a lawsuit is filed by one or multiple plaintiffs on behalf of a “class” of similarly harmed claimants. Any judgment in the case applies to the entire class, and plaintiffs can’t bring individual lawsuits. 

Trulicity and other GLP-1 RA lawsuit plaintiff profiles

Trulicity and other GLP-1 RA lawsuits have been brought by plaintiffs who’ve suffered serious and life-altering injuries. 

In one such case, a female plaintiff suffered severe gastrointestinal injuries after taking Ozempic and then Mounjaro to treat type 2 diabetes. The plaintiff experienced severe stomach pain and vomiting, leading to several emergency room visits and a hospitalization.  

In another lawsuit, Motley Rice filed a claim on behalf of a woman who was diagnosed with gastroparesis after taking Wegovy for approximately six months. The woman’s diagnosis came after she was hospitalized for being unable to tolerate food or drink. She continues to have adverse health effects in her daily life.

Many other plaintiffs have filed lawsuits for illnesses suffered in connection with GLP-1 RA drugs. The lawsuits allege that:

• Plaintiffs took Trulicity, Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro or another GLP-1 RA diabetes or weight-loss drug.
• Plaintiffs developed a severe side effect from taking the drug, and the side effect wasn’t included on the medication’s warning label.
• The side effects of these drugs have caused the plaintiffs to suffer physically, mentally, emotionally and financially.

Approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2014, Trulicity is a GLP-1 RA medication used to treat type 2 diabetes. In 2020, the FDA also approved the use of Trulicity to reduce cardiovascular events in adults, like stroke and heart attack.

The FDA hasn’t approved Trulicity and Ozempic for weight loss, though some doctors prescribe them for this off-label use. The FDA has approved other GLP-1 RAs, including Wegovy and Saxenda® (liraglutide) for weight reduction.

How does Trulicity work?

Trulicity and other GLP-1 RAs work by mimicking the body’s naturally produced GLP-1 hormone. GLP-1 RA drugs trigger increased insulin production, stop the release of sugar (glucose) into the bloodstream, slow stomach emptying and cause feelings of fullness after eating.

Most GLP-1 RA drugs are injectable medications. Some require daily injections, while others require weekly or twice weekly injections. Trulicity is a once-weekly injectable.

Plaintiffs in the Trulicity lawsuit claim they have suffered severe side effects caused by GLP-1 RAs. Many of the medical problems experienced by Trulicity users aren’t on the drug’s warning label or were added after patients started taking the medication. 

Vision loss

Studies suggest that taking Trulicity and other GLP-1 agonists increases the risk of nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) — a type of optic nerve damage and the leading cause of blindness in adults. Trulicity’s warning label doesn’t mention NAION. 

The label does warn about the risk of developing diabetic retinopathy (the growth of abnormal blood vessels in the retina). The warning for this condition was not added until February 2020.

Blood clots, deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE)

Trulicity’s label doesn’t warn about blood clots. However, some users allege that GLP-1 RA drugs, like Ozempic and Wegovy, cause clots and related health conditions that include:

• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT): DVT is the formation of blood clots in the body’s deep veins, usually in the legs. Symptoms of DVT include leg pain and swelling. The condition can become more serious if the clot breaks loose.
• Pulmonary embolism (PE): DVT can lead to a pulmonary embolism if a blood clot breaks loose and sticks in an artery in the lung, blocking blood flow. A pulmonary embolism is a life-threatening medical emergency.

Gallbladder diseases 

Studies suggest that taking GLP-1 RAs significantly increases the risk of gallbladder or biliary diseases. Biliary diseases affect the bile ducts, gallbladder, and systems that produce and transport bile. Symptoms of biliary disease include jaundice (yellowing of the eyes and skin), abdominal pain, fever, fatigue, nausea and vomiting. Trulicity’s label lacks a warning of these dangers.

Gastroenteritis

An inflammation of the stomach and intestines, gastroenteritis causes pain, diarrhea and vomiting. Once again, this side effect isn’t included on Trulicity’s label, but GLP-1 RA lawsuit plaintiffs complain of experiencing this type of gastrointestinal distress while taking these medications. 

Gastroparesis/stomach paralysis

Trulicity and other GLP-1 RAs slow the body’s ability to empty the stomach, potentially causing gastroparesis. No cure has been found for this medical condition, which can lead to dehydration, malnutrition and a decreased quality of life. Gastroparesis can also lead to a blockage of undigested food called a bezoar, which can be life-threatening.

Trulicity’s label states under Drug Interactions that it produces delayed gastric emptying, but the label doesn’t warn against the risk of gastroparesis. 

Ileus and intestinal obstruction

Ileus is the inability of the intestines to push food and waste out of the body. This condition can lead to intestinal obstruction. Severe complications of ileus and intestinal obstruction include tissue death, infection of the abdominal cavity and perforation of the intestinal wall. 

Studies find that patients taking GLP-1 RAs have more than a three-fold increase in intestinal obstruction rate. Yet, Trulicity’s label doesn’t mention ileus or intestinal obstruction as a potential side effect. 

Intraoperative pulmonary aspiration 

The American Society of Anesthesiologists warns those taking GLP-1 RAs to avoid taking the medicine before surgery. This warning is due to an increased risk of regurgitating and aspirating food in the airways and lungs. Trulicity’s label doesn’t mention this danger.

Among the many side effects that are included on Trulicity’s Warnings and Precautions label are:

• Acute kidney injury: Acute kidney injury (AKI) occurs when the kidneys suddenly can’t filter waste from the blood. AKI replaces the term “acute renal failure.”
• Diabetic retinopathy: This condition causes abnormal blood vessel growth in the retinas, potentially leading to blindness. Warnings for diabetic retinopathy weren’t added to Trulicity’s listed side effects until February 2020.
• Hypersensitivity reactions: A hypersensitivity reaction is a severe immune system response featuring symptoms that often include rash, hives, itching, wheezing and stomach cramps.
• Hypoglycemia: Hypoglycemia occurs when the body’s blood sugar drops below the normal range. Severe side effects of hypoglycemia include changes in speech and vision, confusion, loss of coordination, seizures, and unresponsiveness.
• Pancreatitis: This condition involves the swelling of the pancreas and can result in severe complications, including long-lasting inflammation, pancreatic scarring and permanent pancreatic damage.
• Severe gastrointestinal disease: Symptoms of gastrointestinal disease include stomach pain, bloating, constipation, indigestion, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and inflammatory bowel syndrome (IBS).
• Thyroid c-cell tumors: Trulicity contains a boxed warning for thyroid c-cell tumors. This warning is the FDA’s most serious type of warning. Also called medullary thyroid cancer (MTC), this condition is severe and can be deadly.

Motley Rice attorneys have been litigating medical drug litigation for decades. Our attorneys have represented thousands of clients harmed by dangerous medications and medical devices. With our legal and scientific knowledge, we can help you navigate even the most complex cases. We will use our resources and case experiences to pursue justice for you or your loved one. 

Learn more about our medical drug litigation experience.

Do not stop taking a prescribed medication without first consulting with your doctor. Discontinuing a prescribed medication without your doctor's advice can result in injury or death. Trulicity, Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro Saxenda and Zepbound remain approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.