Ozempic and Rybelsus Side Effects Led to Ileus, Nausea and Vomiting, Lawsuit Alleges

Novo Nordisk allegedly knew for years about the risk that Ozempic and Rybelsus may cause ileus and other severe gastrointestinal side effects, but failed to warn doctors or patients.

The side effects of Ozempic and Rybelsus may cause certain users to experience a severe condition known as ileus, where the intestinal muscles cease to function properly, disrupting the normal movement of food and waster through the body, according to a lawsuit filed last week.

Ronald W. Feezor, of Kentucky, brought the complaint (PDF) in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania on September 26, indicating that Novo Nordisk knew about the risk of ileus from Rybelsus and Ozempic for years, yet the manufacturer withheld information from users and the medical community.

Both medications are manufactured by Novo Nordisk, containing the same active ingredient semaglutide, with Ozempic involving a weekly injection and Rybulsus a daily pill. The drugs are part of a new class of diabetes and weight loss medications known as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, which also includes Wegovy, Mounjaro, Zepbound, Trulicity and other medications, which have each been named in a number of similar product liability lawsuits in recent months.

Feezor raises allegations similar to those present in each of these other Ozempic lawsuits, Mounjaro lawsuits and Wegovy lawsuits, indicating that the drug makers placed a desire for profits ahead of consumer safety, by ignoring side effects associated with GLP-1 medications, including risks of serious gastrointestinal problems and obstructions, ileus and stomach paralysis.

Feezer indicates in the complaint that he took both medications from 2022 until late 2023, after they were prescribed by his physician. However, due to Ozempic and Rybelsus side effects, he developed intestinal atony, also known as ileus, where the intestinal muscles fail to contract to properly move food through the digestive tract.

The lawsuit notes that Feezor suffered severe nausea, vomiting, abdominal discomfort and constipation, which has required numerous trips to the emergency room. However, it also indicates that Novo Nordisk knew about these risks long before Feezor ever took the medication, due to numerous scientific articles, but has continuously failed to adequately warn either users or the medical community.

“As early as 2010, a study published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism concluded that GLP-1 slows gastric emptying,” the lawsuit states. “Defendants knew or should have known of the risks of ileus, intestinal obstruction, and their sequelae from the clinical trials, medical literature, and case report.”

Feezor presents claims of inadequate warning, negligent misrepresentation, fraudulent misrepresentation and fraudulent concealment. He seeks both compensatory and punitive damages.

October 2024 Ozempic Lawsuit Update

Feezor’s lawsuit was filed in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, where it will be included with about 800 other similar claims currently pending in a federal multidistrict litigation (MDL) before U.S. District Judge Karen S. Marson, for coordinated discovery and pretrial proceedings.

As part of the management of the MDL, Judge Marston has indicated that before any individual cases are prepared for trial, the Court will address a number of “cross cutting” issues that are likely to impact large numbers of claims. Therefore, early discovery and motions will focus on addressing whether the claims are preempted by federal law, and whether plaintiffs must provide specific diagnostic testing to establish their gastrointestinal injury.

The court is then expected to establish a bellwether program, where the parties will select a small group of representative claims that will go through case-specific discovery and be prepared for the first federal trial dates. While the outcomes in these claims will not be binding on other claimants, the average lawsuit payouts may impact the amount of Ozempic and Mounjaro settlements the drug makers may later need to offer to avoid the need for each individual case to go before separate juries in future years.