Recent reports have been emerging about a lawsuit filed against Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of Ozempic, a medication commonly prescribed for type 2 diabetes. The lawsuit claims the company knew about the severe side effects of Ozempic, including but not limited to, thyroid cancer, pancreatic cancer, and thyroid C-cell tumors. According to reports, Ozempic’s severe side effects may be the result of its links to GLP-1 inhibitors, which have a long history of controversy.
The lawsuits against Ozempic have been filed in the US and claim the medication’s severe side effects had devastating results for patients. This comes as Ozempic’s popularity has soared due to its effectiveness in aiding weight loss. As more people have tried the medication for non-approved uses, including weight loss, health professionals have raised red flags about the medication’s increasing risks. Healthline reports that ‘[GLP-1 inhibitors like Ozempic] may increase the risk of thyroid cancer and medullary thyroid carcinoma’](https://www.healthline.com/health/glucose-and-gastric-inhibitory-peptide-accountability-for-glucose-peptide).
What is Ozempic and how does it work?
Ozempic, also known by its generic name semaglutide or Wegovy, is a medication traditionally prescribed for type 2 diabetes treatment. It works as an injectable glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. GLP-1 is a hormone that occurs naturally in the digestive system. It regulates various functions in the body including appetite, insulin secretion, and blood sugar management. Ozempic’s GLP-1 synthesis teaches patients’ bodies to release less insulin and release more glucose.
According to the Mayo Clinic, GLP-1 receptor agonists ‘[work by mimicking a natural hormone produced by the intestines that help the body make more insulin and suppress the production of glucagon’](https://www.mayoclinic.org/ozempic-oral-tablet/art-20490124). When injected, it stimulates insulin release from the pancreas when glucose levels are high, supporting blood glucose levels by suppressing the amount of glucagon, a hormone that controls glucose release, to improve blood glucose levels and weight management. As a result, patients often notice significant weight loss due to Ozempic’s appetite-suppressing effects.
History of GLP-1 Inhibitors and their side effects
GLP-1 inhibitors, including Ozempic, have been used by doctors for years to treat type 2 diabetes. They are generally available in three forms, though not all forms have received FDA approval for non-diabetes use. Ozempic’s semaglutide was initially approved for adults with type 2 diabetes. However, some studies that have been conducted indicate that GLP-1 inhibitors, including semaglutide, have shown efficacy in treating other health conditions as well.
However, side effects are a problem. As mentioned earlier, GLP-1 receptors play crucial roles in the digestive and cardiovascular systems. Stimulation of this receptor, though helpful for lowering blood sugar, might cause discomfort for those who use increased doses and taking medication over extended periods. Often, the lists detailing the side effects have concerned health professionals for GLP-1’s whose inhibitors generally involve nausea, injection site pain, headaches vomiting and dizziness [‘(Abrupt withdrawal of the medication can cause an increased risk of acute renal injury’](https://www.drugs.com/side-effects/semaglutide.html), reports drug website drug.com.
Class Action and the $2 Billion Lawsuit Against Ozempic’s Manufacturer, Novo Nordisk
The rapid increase in popularity of Ozempic for its off-label off-duty use, especially for weight loss, might have proceeded with scores of Americans using the drug without informing their doctors about other health conditions they have or medications they are taking.
A class-action lawsuit has been filed in US federal court by Matthew L. Casey and his law firm, Saltz Mongeluzzi & Bendesky LLP. The lawyer claims that Ozempic and its manufacturer, Novo Nordisk, were involved in deurable injury, specifically linked thyroid and pancreas cancer. Novo Nordisk, according to reports filed with the FDA, reportedly concealed evidence of the danger of thyroid and pancreatic cancer. Novo Nordisk claims there was insufficient evidence to prove a clear link to cancer (https://www.statnews.com/pharmalot/2022/10/04/novo-nordisk-hides-evidence-of-ozempic-cancer-risk/).
Ozempic’s manufacturer responds to the waves of the attacks
Unlike some prescription medications, Ozempic has a wide, undisputed record both diagnosing and treating controlling blood sugar in diabetics. However, non-FDA approved uses could also be legitimate. regulations should force doctors to ensure, however that formerly untested procedures are exclusively being convenanted after patients and in accordance with values recently unveiled into swift disadvantages and USD advantages.
