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Mounjaro, manufactured by Eli Lilly, is a medication originally designed for diabetes. However, it has gained popularity alongside drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy as a weight loss and weight management tool for individuals with obesity. Emerging evidence suggests that using high doses of Mounjaro for weight loss may lead to severe health issues affecting the gallbladder and gastrointestinal system. These issues include gallbladder disease, gallstones, gastroparesis (stomach paralysis), and other stomach-related conditions.
Reports indicate that Eli Lilly was aware of these risks but neglected to adequately warn doctors and patients. Consequently, individuals who have suffered injuries after using Mounjaro are now filing product liability lawsuits. The legal team at Nguyen Injury Lawyer is actively investigating Mounjaro injury cases. If you experienced gastroparesis after taking Mounjaro for weight loss, contact us today for a free consultation at XXX-XXX-XXXX.
Mounjaro Lawsuit Updates
Stay informed about the latest developments in Mounjaro gastroparesis lawsuits:
January 8, 2025
The Ozempic/Mounjaro class action MDL saw a significant increase in new case filings in the latter half of 2024. However, the rate slowed in December, with 31 new cases added. This slowdown may be temporary due to the holiday season, and a resurgence in new cases is expected in 2025. A key evidentiary hearing is scheduled for May 2025 to assess scientific evidence related to causation.
December 18, 2024
The GLP-1 receptor agonist MDL, encompassing Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro, has been expanded to include claims concerning Novo Nordisk’s Saxenda. The MDL panel denied a request to further expand the MDL to include blood clot-related injuries like deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism due to concerns about complicating the litigation.
The MDL remains focused on gastrointestinal injuries, including stomach paralysis and intestinal obstruction. Despite support from both plaintiffs and Novo Nordisk, the JPML determined that clotting-related claims lacked sufficient commonalities with gastrointestinal issues to justify inclusion.
November 16, 2024
Plaintiffs’ attorneys submitted an updated master complaint in the Ozempic/Mounjaro MDL. This document refines allegations against defendants like Novo Nordisk, focusing on the drugs’ role in causing gastrointestinal injuries and other serious side effects.
The master complaint consolidates common allegations and claims from individual lawsuits into a unified document that outlines core litigation issues. Plaintiffs then file short-form complaints referencing the master complaint, adding details about their individual experiences and specific claims.
October 25, 2024
A new lawsuit filed in the MDL by an Oklahoma resident alleges serious injuries from Mounjaro use. The plaintiff, who used Mounjaro between September and December 2023, claims to have developed gastroparesis.
The complaint asserts that Eli Lilly marketed Mounjaro without adequate warnings about the heightened risks of severe gastrointestinal side effects, including gastroparesis, despite being aware of these potential risks. The plaintiff argues that Eli Lilly’s product labeling and promotional materials failed to sufficiently warn prescribing physicians and consumers, depriving her physician of the necessary information to make informed prescription decisions and monitor for early gastroparesis symptoms.
September 4, 2024
The Ozempic / Mounjaro class action MDL more than doubled in size during August, adding over 500 new plaintiffs and increasing the total number of pending cases from 346 to 869.
August 19, 2024
The court granted the defendants’ request for early discovery and motion practice on two key issues:
- The reliability of diagnostic tests for gastroparesis.
- The adequacy of the warning labels provided by the manufacturers.
The court agreed that these “cross-cutting” issues are central to the case and could significantly impact the scope of the claims.
Specifically, the court will examine whether gastroparesis can be reliably diagnosed without objective testing and whether the FDA-approved warning labels meet federal law standards, potentially preempting state law claims.
Further briefings have been requested on a third issue—general causation—to determine whether GLP-1 receptor agonists can cause the alleged injuries. A ruling on this matter has been postponed pending additional information. A comprehensive scheduling order will be set following the next status conference on September 16, 2024, during which the parties will propose deadlines for discovery and motions on the approved issues.
March 8, 2024
The first status conference in the new Mounjaro class action MDL in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania was scheduled for March 14, 2024. This conference provided MDL Judge Gene E.K. Pratter the first opportunity to establish the framework for handling this litigation.
June 5, 2024
A new study identified a link between semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, and nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), a type of eye stroke that leads to sudden vision loss. Semaglutide is also found in medications like Ozempic.
The study analyzed data from over 16,800 patients at university hospitals managing diabetes or weight. Researchers compared those taking semaglutide with patients using medications from other drug classes. Among type 2 diabetes patients, 8.9% of those on semaglutide experienced NAION, a significantly higher rate compared to just 1.8% of patients using other diabetes treatments.
February 9, 2024
A new research study further confirms that using GLP-1 receptor antagonist drugs like Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Ozempic often results in significant gastrointestinal problems and digestive issues. The study found that these issues are much more common and more significant when patients use these drugs at higher doses for weight loss.
December 1, 2023
A group of plaintiffs filed a motion asking the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation to consolidate all lawsuits related to Mounjaro, Ozempic, and Wegovy into a new class action MDL. There are currently around 20 of these cases pending in federal courts across the country, but hundreds more are expected to be filed.
October 31, 2023
A Louisiana woman filed a lawsuit alleging that she faced severe gastrointestinal problems after using Ozempic, prior to using Mounjaro. Her contention primarily revolves around the adequacy of warnings given about potential severe symptoms. The drug manufacturer’s reference to the FDA-approved label for Mounjaro, which mentions potential severe gastrointestinal reactions, is also part of the dispute.
Her lawsuit points out that medical literature describes the symptoms of gastroparesis and argues Eli Lilly had an obligation to warn her and her doctors of the risk of the drug.
Lilly seems to argue that it is widely known in the medical community that drugs like Mounjaro can cause these complications. But why not put it on the label?
About Mounjaro
Mounjaro (tirzepatide), developed by Eli Lilly and Company, is an FDA-approved medication for type 2 diabetes treatment that targets both the GIP and GLP-1 receptors, receiving approval in May 2022.
These receptors are linked to GLP-1 and GIP hormones, which the intestines produce post-consumption and are crucial in blood sugar regulation. Specifically, GLP-1 triggers insulin release while suppressing glucagon release, whereas GIP stimulates the release of both insulin and glucagon. Mounjaro operates by simulating the actions of these hormones: promoting insulin release, constraining glucagon release, and decelerating food digestion, thereby reducing post-meal blood sugar spikes.
This drug addresses the global demand for more potent and safe type 2 diabetes solutions, a prevalent disease marked by elevated blood sugar that can, over time, harm the body’s nerves, vessels, and organs. Clinical studies have indicated Mounjaro’s superior efficacy in blood sugar reduction compared to other diabetes treatments, including metformin and insulin.
Although Mounjaro was only approved as a diabetes drug, it became very popular among doctors for weight loss treatment and management in obese patients. This type of “off-label” use for weight loss also became popular for similar diabetes drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. The Mounjaro lawsuits Nguyen Injury Lawyer is focused on will likely be primarily lawsuits where the drug was used for weight loss as opposed to diabetes.
Mounjaro Can Cause Gastrointestinal and Gallbladder Problems
Research indicates that Mounjaro can lead to severe gastrointestinal and gallbladder health conditions, especially when used in higher doses for weight loss.
Mounjaro has been linked to the following health conditions:
Gastroparesis
Also known as “stomach paralysis,” this condition involves the muscles in the stomach ceasing to move normally. Individuals with gastroparesis experience a slowdown or complete failure of stomach motility, resulting in improper stomach emptying. This can be an excruciating and potentially serious condition that can lead to other internal complications. This is really the signature injury of this litigation. The vast majority of the lawsuits involve gastroparesis and it could be the the litigation gets winnowed down to just gastroparesis at some point.
Gastroenteritis
This involves infection and inflammation in the digestive system that causes stomach cramps, diarrhea, and vomiting. The most concerning complication of gastroenteritis is dehydration.
Gallbladder Disease
Mounjaro and similar drugs have been linked to gallbladder disease, involving chronic gallbladder inflammation and the development of gallstones and other problems. It can be very painful and, in some cases, require surgical removal of the gallbladder.
The FDA has issued a boxed warning concerning Mounjaro, highlighting its potential risk for gallbladder disease. This represents the highest level of alert provided by the FDA. So the failure to warn Mounjaro lawsuits will focus on claims where the injuries were before the warning was placed on the product.
Mounjaro Linked to Stomach Paralysis
Research has shown that Mounjaro can cause a dangerous condition called stomach paralysis (gastroparesis). Studies have found that individuals using Mounjaro at high doses for extended periods had a significantly higher rate of gastroparesis. There is also evidence suggesting that the drug manufacturer knew or should have known about this potential risk but failed to warn doctors and consumers.
What is Stomach Paralysis?
Stomach paralysis, also known as gastroparesis, is a condition where the stomach’s normal movement to push food into the small intestine is slowed down or completely stopped. Normally, the muscles in the stomach contract to help move food through the digestive tract. In gastroparesis, this process is impaired, leading to poor stomach emptying.
Stomach paralysis symptoms include:
Symptoms of Gastroparesis
Gastroparesis can manifest through a range of uncomfortable symptoms, including:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Feeling full after eating only a small amount of food
- Bloating
- Abdominal pain
- Acid reflux
- Weight loss
Gastric Emptying Study to Prove Gastroparesis
A key point of contention in Mounjaro lawsuits will be establishing that the plaintiff has or had gastroparesis. A gastric emptying study can be crucial for this.
A gastric emptying study is a specialized test designed to evaluate the speed at which food moves from the stomach into the small intestine. The procedure typically involves the patient consuming a small meal containing a minimal amount of a radioactive substance that can be traced. Using a gamma camera, doctors can take images at regular intervals to monitor and measure the time it takes for the stomach to empty. This study is the primary diagnostic tool for gastroparesis and related conditions involving delayed gastric emptying.
The results of a gastric emptying study offer an objective assessment of stomach function. Physicians analyze images taken at set intervals—often every 15 to 30 minutes over several hours—to monitor the rate at which food leaves the stomach. Gastroparesis is typically diagnosed if the stomach retains more than 10% of the meal after four hours. This level of diagnostic precision is particularly valuable given that gastroparesis symptoms can overlap with those of other gastrointestinal disorders, making definitive identification challenging without direct, measurable evidence. Without this test, the defense may attempt to attribute the symptoms to other causes.
Understanding the precise rate of gastric emptying is essential for both accurate diagnosis and treatment. By quantifying the delay, the gastric emptying study provides concrete evidence that can link delayed stomach function to potential external factors relevant to litigation.
Mounjaro Lawsuits
Across the country, a growing number of product liability lawsuits are being filed related to Mounjaro. These lawsuits are initiated by individuals who used Mounjaro for weight loss and subsequently suffered gastrointestinal or gallbladder injuries.
The core argument in these Mounjaro lawsuits centers on the concept of “failure to warn.” Plaintiffs assert that Eli Lilly was aware, or should have been aware, that regular use of Mounjaro, particularly at higher doses, could lead to health issues such as gastroparesis or gallbladder disease. Despite this knowledge, the lawsuits allege that Eli Lilly did not include warnings about these specific risks on the drug’s label, leaving both doctors and patients uninformed about the potential dangers associated with Mounjaro.
Mounjaro Class Action Lawsuit
As of October 2024, Mounjaro lawsuits filed in federal courts are being consolidated into a multidistrict litigation (MDL), which functions similarly to a class action.
This consolidation means that all Mounjaro lawsuits pending in federal courts nationwide are now under the purview of a single judge in Pennsylvania. The consolidated cases are currently in the discovery phase, during which evidence and information are gathered. Following discovery, a subset of representative cases will be selected for individual trials. These initial trials, known as bellwether trials, serve to provide both parties with insights into the potential outcomes of future trials, facilitating settlement negotiations.
Estimated Settlement Amounts for a Mounjaro Lawsuit
At this early stage, accurately predicting settlement values for Mounjaro lawsuits is challenging. A significant factor is the strength and reliability of the scientific evidence supporting these cases, which is often a critical aspect of pharmaceutical litigation.
Therefore, any estimate of potential settlement amounts or jury awards for Mounjaro lawsuits remains highly speculative. However, Nguyen Injury Lawyer can offer an informed assessment based on certain assumptions about how the litigation may proceed. We understand that those affected want to know how attorneys are thinking about potential settlement values – whether these cases might be worth $10,000 or $10 million. We aim to provide our perspective based on speculative assumptions.
With that understanding, our attorneys estimate that a successful Mounjaro lawsuit could potentially result in a settlement range of $150,000 to $300,000. This estimate is somewhat lower than our valuation for Ozempic lawsuits, primarily because Mounjaro has been available for a shorter period. Consequently, Mounjaro plaintiffs may have had less exposure to the drug compared to Ozempic plaintiffs, potentially making these cases comparatively weaker.
Hire a Lawyer for Your Mounjaro Lawsuit
If you believe you have been injured by Mounjaro and are considering filing a lawsuit, the first step is to consult with an attorney. Contact Nguyen Injury Lawyer today for a consultation. You can reach us at XXX-XXX-XXXX or through our online contact page at https://www.nguyeninjurylawyer.com/contact.