Diabetes Drug Lawsuits and Legal Claims
Many diabetes and weight loss drugs have been linked to serious side effects, including kidney failure, cancer and stomach paralysis. Some drugmakers settled diabetes drug lawsuits for over $2 billion, and other legal claims are still pending.
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Patients who experienced severe complications filed diabetes drug lawsuits against drugmakers over failure to warn about side effects and other legal claims.
Big Pharma drugmakers sued in diabetes drug lawsuits include:
- Johnson & Johnson
- AstraZeneca
- Boehringer Ingelheim
- Bristol-Myers Squibb
- Takeda
- Novo Nordisk
- Eli Lilly
If you were harmed by any of the diabetes drugs detailed below, you can take steps to file a legal claim for potential compensation.
Gastroparesis and Intestinal Blockage From GLP-1 Drugs
GLP-1 receptor agonists like Ozempic (semaglutide), Wegovy (semaglutide), and Mounjaro (tirzepatide) have been linked to gastroparesis (delayed stomach emptying), ileus (irregular bowel function) and intestinal blockages. While Ozempic and Mounjaro are only approved for type 2 diabetes, they’ve been prescribed off-label for weight loss.
The FDA has updated the labels of these drugs to warn the public. However, the warnings came too late for some people, leading them to file an Ozempic lawsuit or a Mounjaro lawsuit against drugmakers Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly.
Common claims include failure to warn about the Ozempic and Mounjaro side effects and making false claims about the safety of these drugs. The claims for Wegovy side effects are similar because Wegovy has the same active ingredient as Ozempic.
- FDA label updates for Ozempic:
- The new label change in January 2025 warns that Ozempic is associated with “gastrointestinal adverse reactions, sometimes severe.” However, it does not specifically say Ozempic causes “gastroparesis,” also known as stomach paralysis. The label also mentioned post-marketing reports of ileus, also known as an intestinal blockage. Lawsuits and studies specifically mentioned these Ozempic side effects.
- Risk of Gastrointestinal Adverse Events Associated With Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists for Weight Loss:
- This 2023 study published in JAMA linked GLP-1 drugs used for weight loss to a 3.67 times higher risk of gastroparesis and a 4.22 higher risk of bowel obstruction compared to another weight loss drug.
Gastroparesis can lead to severe vomiting, potentially resulting in dehydration and malnutrition. Hardened bits of food may also linger in the intestine, leading to potential blockages.
One lawsuit over GLP-1 drugs was filed by Jaclyn Bjorklund, who used Ozempic and Mounjaro. She filed a lawsuit after suffering gastrointestinal events that led to severe vomiting, stomach pain, several hospitalizations and tooth loss from excessive vomiting.
Status of Ozempic, Wegovy & Mounjaro Lawsuits
Lawsuits over Ozemic, Wegovy and Mounjaro are still in the early phases, and no bellwether test trials have been scheduled. There haven’t been any settlements offered either.
These are active lawsuits, and Drugwatch’s partners are currently accepting cases.
The bulk of these cases are consolidated in MDL 3094 in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. The MDL contains lawsuits for gastrointestinal injuries linked to Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus, Trulicity and Mounjaro. Lawyers are also investigating Saxenda claims for the same injuries.
Vision Loss, Suicidal Ideation, Gallbladder Problems & Pancreatitis
The main focus of Ozempic and other GLP-1 lawsuits is gastrointestinal problems, but some lawyers are also investigating claims for vision loss, suicidal ideation, gallbladder problems and pancreatitis.
These cases are still in the early stages and aren’t a part of an MDL yet.
One 2024 study in JAMA found Ozempic increased the risk of non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). NAION is a common form of damage to the optic nerve and a cause of blindness in adults. Drugwatch’s legal partners are investigating Ozempic vision loss cases.
Amputation, Kidney Failure & DKA From SGLT2 Inhibitors
The FDA has released several safety warnings linking diabetes drugs in the SGLT2 inhibitor class to increased amputation risk, kidney injury, serious genital infections and diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).
DKA is a condition where high levels of blood acids called ketones build up in the blood. It’s life-threatening and can lead to death or diabetic coma.
Drugs in this class include Invokana (canagliflozin), Farxiga (dapagliflozin) and Jardiance (empagliflozin). Serious side effects led to SGLT2 inhibitor lawsuits.
- Canagliflozin Linked to Increased Amputation Risk
- The FDA found an increased risk of leg and foot amputations with Invokana. The agency added this risk to a black box label warning in 2017. However, on August 26, 2020, the FDA announced that it had removed this warning based on new data from clinical trials that showed that while the risk of amputation is still increased, it’s not as high as initially believed (particularly with appropriate monitoring). That risk is typically balanced by improved heart and kidney outcomes; both organs can be greatly harmed by untreated type 2 diabetes.
- FDA Strengthens Invokana and Farxiga Kidney Injury Warnings
- The FDA strengthened the existing warning for kidney injury for Invokana and Farxiga and added recommendations to minimize the risk. The August 2020 announcement, however, states that Invokana helps the heart and kidneys.
- SGLT2 Inhibitors May Increase Diabetic Ketoacidosis and Urinary Tract Infection Risk
- FDA warned the public about the risk of DKA with SGLT2 medications and strengthened the drug label warnings. The agency also advised health care providers to stop canagliflozin, dapagliflozin and empagliflozin at least three days and ertugliflozin at least four days before surgery.
Most of the legal claims centered around SGLT2 diabetes drugs were Invokana lawsuits, and a smaller number of lawsuits were for Farxiga and Jardiance.
Lawsuits claimed fraud, negligence and failure to warn about the risk of amputation, DKA and other injuries.
Status of SGLT2 Inhibitor Lawsuits
SGLT2 inhibitor lawsuits were settled, dismissed or otherwise resolved. Drugwatch isn’t aware of any lawyers actively taking cases, and our legal partners are no longer accepting these cases.
Judges consolidated a large group of Invokana lawsuits in New Jersey multidistrict litigation (MDL) number 2750, and Farxiga lawsuits were transferred to MDL 2776. MDLs are large groups of lawsuits consolidated to make litigation more efficient and to save costs.
In 2021, Johnson & Johnson agreed to settle existing Invokana lawsuits for an undisclosed amount. Bristol-Myers Squibb and AstraZeneca agreed to settle Farxiga lawsuits for a confidential amount in 2019.
Bladder Cancer From Actos (Pioglitazone)
Studies linked Takeda’s Type 2 diabetes medication Actos (pioglitazone) to bladder cancer, leading to lawsuits.
One meta-analysis of nine studies published in Cancer Medicine showed that people who used Actos had a significantly higher risk of bladder cancer after more than two years of use (when compared to those who had never used Actos)
This led the FDA to add a bladder cancer warning to the drug’s label in 2011. The administration reaffirmed its concerns in 2016, advising doctors not to use the drug in patients with bladder cancer and use caution before prescribing it to those with a history of bladder cancer.
Actos bladder cancer lawsuits claimed Takeda “concealed their knowledge of this risk and failed to provide adequate warnings to consumers and the health care community.”
Status of Actos Lawsuits
Actos litigation is no longer active, but it provides a precedent for diabetes drug settlements and claims.
In April 2015, Takeda agreed to settle bladder cancer lawsuits for $2.4 billion, ending the bulk of the litigation. At one point, Takeda faced an estimated 10,000 Actos lawsuits.
Steps to Take If You Were Harmed by a Diabetes Drug
If you were harmed by a diabetes drug, especially a GLP-1 with active lawsuits, you should take medical and legal steps to safeguard your health and protect your rights.
- Document Your Medical History
- Seek medical treatment, and talk to your doctor about any side effects. Make sure to save medical records, diabetes drug prescriptions or receipts, and hospital reports. Document communication with your doctors regarding any diagnoses of gastrointestinal side effects.
- Understand the Statute of Limitations
- Lawsuits must be filed within a specific time window based on your state and injury date. If you aren’t sure what the time limit is, speak to a diabetes drug lawyer right away.
- Speak With a Dangerous Drug Attorney
- Attorneys can review your case for free and let you know if they can help. They can also file a lawsuit on your behalf and walk you through the entire legal process. This spans from filing your claim to potentially taking your case to trial or negotiating a settlement on your behalf.
Make sure to keep track of the latest updates on Drugwatch as new drugs are investigated and lawsuits develop. We provide the latest news and information to help you stay up to date.
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