A recent study published by the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) highlighted the effectiveness of Ozempic (semaglutide) in mitigating cardiovascular risks in type 2 diabetes patients. While these findings present a significant medical breakthrough, they may also have implications on potential lawsuits related to Ozempic use.
For existing plaintiffs alleging harm related to Ozempic, the new findings could serve as a basis for the defense, underscoring the drug’s marked health benefits. Defendants might argue that benefits outweigh the alleged risks, or even negate claims of negligence or inadequate warnings by pointing to the positive study outcomes.
However, this does not automatically absolve manufacturers from potential litigation. If adverse effects were not adequately disclosed to both doctors and patients, despite the cardiovascular benefits, the manufacturer could still face liability. It’s equally worth noting that the study could influence future cases.
For newer Ozempic users, if they experience side effects not warned about, such positive studies will not preclude their right to seek damages. Risks must be comprehensively disclosed, irrespective of a drug’s benefits.
GLP-1s work by slowing digestion to suppress a person’s appetite but can cause problems if that process slows down too much. The researchers specifically examined semaglutide, a type of GLP-1– the active ingredient used in Ozempic. Researchers said the conditions in the study include one disorder not named in the warning labels for those drugs: stomach paralysis, which slows or completely stops the movement of food from the stomach to the intestine and can cause symptoms like persistent vomiting.
The researchers measured the rate at which patients developed four different serious stomach conditions while taking semaglutide, liraglutide and bupropion-naltrexone, which are stomach paralysis, pancreatitis, bowel obstruction and biliary disease, a group of conditions affecting the gall bladder. The study findings are based on an analysis of health insurance claim records for roughly 16 million U.S. patients, a large health claims database that captures 93% of all outpatient prescriptions and physician diagnoses in the US. Researchers specifically looked at people with a recent history of obesity who were prescribed semaglutide or liraglutide between 2006 and 2020.
Use of GLP-1 agonists compared with bupropion-naltrexone was associated with increased risk of pancreatitis, bowel obstruction , and gastroparesis. Around 10 out of every 1,000 patients experienced that condition while taking semaglutide. Compared with bupropion-naltrexone, GLP-1s were associated with a 9 times higher risk of pancreatitis, a 4 times higher risk of bowel obstruction and a more than 3 times higher risk of stomach paralysis, according to the study. The findings suggest the risks of those conditions are higher in patients taking GLP-1s such as those in Ozempic.
Regardless of these implications, it’s important for potential plaintiffs to consult with an experienced attorney in pharmaceutical litigation. Each case varies greatly, and legal advice is critical in understanding the potential impact of studies like JAMA’s on individual lawsuits.
If you or a loved one has been affected by Ozempic, give us a call at the Michael Brady Lynch Firm at 888-585-5970.
Date: October 18, 2023
Author: Brandon Salter and Anoop Desai
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