Kelly Crawford, Riker Danzig Co-Chair and head of our Products Liability, Toxic Tort and Mass Tort Practice, authored the article, "MDL Litigation Over GLP-1s," featured in the FDCC's "Friday 5 Things to Know," in the October 17, 2025 issue.
"You can't watch TV . . . without seeing countless ads about GLP-1 (Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists) weight loss drugs. Ozempic, Wegovy, Trulicity, Mounjaro to name a few. Not only are pharma companies marketing such products, but countless pharmacies and other providers are compounding generic forms . . . News programs regularly report on the studies relating to them and the success many folks have had with weight loss, not just management of Type 2 diabetes. Overall, the medical community has had a favorable response to these medications."
What You Need to Know:
In February 2024, a federal multidistrict litigation (MDL) was established in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. The MDL currently includes over 2,800 lawsuits, with projections indicating potential growth into tens of thousands of cases.
Plaintiffs allege manufacturers:
- Failed to adequately warn about risks including gastrointestinal issues, pancreatitis, and vision loss
- Defectively designed or manufactured the drugs
- Engaged in false or misleading marketing practices
Two groups have applied for multicounty litigation in New Jersey:
- 39 plaintiffs allege gastroparesis and ileus injuries, predicting over 500 total cases
- 21 plaintiffs claim permanent vision loss from NAION (Nonarteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy)
For more information, please see the full article attached below.