Ozempic maker faces proposed class action lawsuit alleging ‘dangerous side effects’

globalnews.ca:

Ozempic maker Novo Nordisk is facing a proposed class action lawsuit that alleges the company has not properly warned Canadians about severe side effects, including stomach paralysis and gallbladder disease.The proposed class action lawsuit was filed on Oct. 6 in British Columbia for alleged damages arising from Novo Nordisk’s drugs Ozempic, Rybelsus and Wegovy.

The lawsuit claims the pharmaceutical company was “negligent” in sufficiently warning health-care professionals and the public about the “dangerous” risks linked with the drugs.“It’s filed as a national class on behalf of all Canadians that have taken Ozempic,” said Jill McCartney, a lawyer and partner at Siskinds, the London, Ont.-based law firm behind the litigation.“The alleged risks with the drug and injuries that people have suffered relate to problems with gastrointestinal issues… notably stomach paralysis and intestinal blockages.”None of the claims laid out in the proposed class action lawsuit have been proven in court.Ozempic and Rybelsus were approved by Health Canada as medications to treat diabetes, but not weight loss. However, they are heavily marketed as weight loss drugs.

Wegovy, a higher-dose version of Ozempic, was approved for weight loss in Canada but has never been sold in the country due to high global demand and supply shortages.Since Ozempic’s approval in 2018, it has gained significant popularity in Canada. The drug’s medical ingredient, semaglutide, works by mimicking a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1).

This stimulates the release of insulin and helps to reduce blood sugar spikes. It’s also effective at regulating diet by targeting areas of the brain that make a person feel fuller.On Ozempic’s website, the main side effects