Today, The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) transferred 55 product liability and personal injury lawsuits alleging Ozempic, Wegovy, and similar GLP-1 RA drugs prescribed for diabetes and weight loss cause serious and permanent injuries to the Eastern District of Pennsylvania (EDPA).
Consolidating the Ozempic and Wegovy litigation
Over the last several weeks, a group of plaintiffs represented by Pogust Goodhead and Motley Rice asked the JPML to consolidate the Ozempic and Wegovy litigation in EDPA. Given its convenient location, vast experience with multi-district litigations, and current capacity and judicial resources available to take on another, those plaintiffs urged the JPML to select EDPA as the most suitable forum.
In a six-page order, the JPML agreed:
The Eastern District of Pennsylvania is an appropriate transferee district for this litigation. Thirteen of the 55 actions including potential tag-along actions are pending in this district—the most actions of any district.
Novo Nordisk Inc. manufactures many of these products. Their headquarters is in Plainfield, New Jersey, and it is alleged that many of the witnesses and documents relating to the sales and marketing, regulatory affairs, and safety and pharmacovigilance of Novo Nordisk’s products will be located there. The Eastern District of Pennsylvania also provides a ‘convenient and accessible location for this nationwide litigation.”
JPML
Allegations against Novo Nordisk Inc.
A total of 55 lawsuits currently filed accuse Novo Nordisk and other drug manufacturers of their failure to warn individuals about the true risks of their GLP-1 RA drugs as well as for negligence and deceptive and unfair marketing of both products, among other claims.
According to the plaintiffs, individuals using these drugs – specifically Ozempic and Wegovy – suffer from severe issues with their stomach, gallbladder, intestines, and vascular system, and are at an increased risk of pulmonary aspiration and death when undergoing surgical procedures that require general anaesthesia. Going forward, these lawsuits will be heard in EDPA before Hon. Gene E.K. Pratter.
Led by partner Mike Daly, Pogust Goodhead currently represents individuals, predominantly women, who have suffered from serious gastrointestinal and aspiration injuries that Novo Nordisk failed to warn doctors and consumers were a potential risk of taking their drugs, Ozempic and Wegovy.
Pogust Goodhead comment
Mike Daly, Managing Partner of Pogust Goodhead’s Philadelphia Office said: “We’re very pleased to learn that the JPML has elected to send the GLP-1 RA litigation to the Eastern District to be overseen by Judge Pratter. Our firm, along with co-counsel Motley Rice and others, petitioned the JPML last week for EDPA as the most appropriate venue for the burgeoning Ozempic and Wegovy mass tort. We are devoted to seeking justice for our irreparably harmed clients and look forward to holding the manufacturers of Ozempic and Wegovy responsible in our hometown of Philadelphia.”
If you or someone you know has developed severe injuries or complications due to the use of Ozempic or Wegovy, please contact us today for a completely free and confidential conversation. You can get in touch with our team by emailing intake@pogustgoodhead.com or calling (610) 941-4204.
For any press inquiries please contact Caroline Knecht cknecht@pogustgoodhead.com.
