Weight-Loss Drug (GLP-1) Lawsuits: Eligibility, Injuries, MDL 3094 Status & 2026 Outlook
Last updated: September 21, 2025
Claims tied to GLP-1 medications—Ozempic®, Wegovy®, Rybelsus® (semaglutide) and Mounjaro®/Zepbound® (tirzepatide)—are accelerating around gastrointestinal injuries (including ileus and alleged gastroparesis) and, more recently, vision-loss events such as NAION. Federal cases are centralized in MDL No. 3094 in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania under Judge Karen Spencer Marston with regular status conferences through 2026.
Start a free case checkEU regulator (EMA/PRAC) concluded in June 2025 that NAION (a serious eye condition) is a very rare side effect of semaglutide and recommended label updates; U.S. labels for Ozempic were previously updated in 2023 to note intestinal blockage (ileus) and delayed gastric emptying.
Jump to timelineWhat Are GLP-1 Medications?
GLP-1 receptor agonists help regulate blood sugar and are widely prescribed for type 2 diabetes and weight management. Brand names include Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus (semaglutide) and Mounjaro/Zepbound (tirzepatide). Prescribing information highlights known risks such as pancreatitis, gallbladder disease, hypoglycemia (when combined with certain agents), kidney injury, and gastrointestinal adverse events.
Who Might Qualify
Individuals who used a GLP-1 drug and experienced serious adverse outcomes may qualify, particularly where medical records link the injury to drug exposure. Reported harms include severe and persistent gastrointestinal issues (e.g., obstructive ileus, alleged gastroparesis/slow gastric emptying), bowel obstruction, and vision problems consistent with NAION.
- Severe nausea/vomiting, intractable abdominal pain, repeated ER visits or admissions
- Documented ileus, bowel obstruction, or surgical intervention related to GI function
- Vision changes or sudden, painless vision loss evaluated for NAION
Symptoms & Harms to Document
- GI: persistent vomiting, abdominal distention, inability to tolerate PO intake, diagnoses of ileus/obstruction; peri-procedural aspiration risks due to delayed gastric emptying noted in late-2024 medical guidance.
- Ophthalmic: sudden vision loss, altitudinal field defects; EMA/PRAC characterized NAION frequency as “very rare” (≤1 in 10,000).
- Other adverse events listed in product labels (pancreatitis, gallbladder disease, acute kidney injury, and hypersensitivity reactions).
Keep medication names, dose, start/stop dates, prescriber info, and all imaging/lab results together to streamline legal and medical review.
Potential Claim Types
- Personal injury (design defect/failure-to-warn theories subject to evolving preemption rulings)
- Medical expenses (past and future), lost wages/earning capacity
- Pain, suffering, loss of quality of life
Procedural posture and defenses vary; notable briefing in 2025 has focused on preemption and scope of viable theories within the MDL.
Litigation Timeline & 2026 Outlook
On Feb. 2, 2024, the JPML centralized federal GLP-1 cases in the E.D. Pa. as In re GLP-1 RAs Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 3094. Early CMOs covered organization, leadership, preservation, plaintiff fact sheets, and ESI.
Judge Karen S. Marston conducts recurring status conferences; an amended order (Aug. 27, 2025) extends monthly conferences into 2026, signaling a continuing pretrial track toward expert issues and case selection.
Public updates through 2024–2025 indicate a rapidly growing docket addressing GI injuries and a separate wave of vision-loss filings; some parties have sought consolidation/coordination for NAION-specific claims.
Case counts fluctuate as new filings are transferred in or dismissed; always verify the latest numbers from court dockets and orders.
Key Safety & Label Updates Influencing Claims
- U.S. label changes (2023 & 2024): Ozempic label updated to include ileus (intestinal blockage) and language around delayed gastric emptying with peri-anesthesia aspiration risk noted in late-2024 clinical guidance.
- EU NAION determination (June 2025): EMA/PRAC concluded NAION is a very rare side effect of semaglutide and recommended updating product information; global media summarized the finding and estimated frequency.
- Compounded/unapproved GLP-1 warning (2025): FDA cautioned about unapproved and mislabeled GLP-1 products sold direct-to-consumer, emphasizing safety risks and enforcement.
Practical Next Steps
For Potential Claimants
- Collect complete medical records (orders, ER notes, imaging, ophthalmology reports), pharmacy fills, and prescriber documentation.
- Keep a symptom timeline (onset, severity, interruptions to work/school, procedures).
- If experiencing acute vision changes, seek urgent evaluation; NAION requires prompt ophthalmic assessment.
For Firms Entering the Docket
Track MDL 3094 CMOs (PFS/ESI/coordinated issues) and monthly conference orders; align screenings to labeled risks (e.g., ileus/obstruction, delayed gastric emptying) and post-June-2025 NAION criteria. Consider parallel state-court coordination for NAION filings.
By the Numbers
- MDL 3094 (E.D. Pa.) active with monthly conferences into 2026
- Ozempic U.S. label: ileus added (2023); delayed gastric emptying concerns (2024)
- EMA/PRAC: NAION = “very rare” (≤1/10,000) for semaglutide (June 2025)
Figures summarize regulator and court records; consult the latest MDL orders and drug labels for precise wording and effective dates.
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Court schedules evolve; for real-time MDL information, follow the E.D. Pa. MDL 3094 docket and orders.