(Source-nypost.com)
A Pennsylvania woman, Juanita Gantt, is suing the pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, alleging that its popular weight-loss medication, Ozempic manufacturer, led to severe health complications. Gantt, a 62-year-old diabetic, claims that the drug caused a life-threatening condition that required the removal of her colon and has left her with a permanent reliance on a drainage pouch.
Health Crisis and Legal Claims
Juanita Gantt had been using Ozempic manufacturer, a medication approved for managing type 2 diabetes and weight loss, with promising results initially. However, in October 2023, her health took a dramatic turn. Gantt collapsed at home and was discovered unconscious by her husband. Upon hospitalization, doctors found that parts of her intestine had died due to ischemic colitis, a condition where reduced blood flow leads to the death of intestinal tissue. This required an emergency surgery to remove her colon, followed by a cardiac arrest that nearly claimed her life.
Doctors suspect that the side effects of Ozempic manufacturer may have caused blood vessels in Gantt’s abdomen to constrict, impairing blood flow to her colon. This decreased blood flow would have hindered the intestines’ ability to function properly, slowing food movement and causing severe tissue damage. Gantt’s lawsuit argues that Novo Nordisk failed to adequately warn users about these potential risks, which have been reported in a small number of patients using Ozempic manufacturer and similar medications like Wegovy.
Broader Implications and Company Response
Gantt’s legal action highlights concerns about the safety of medications containing semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy. Reports of gastrointestinal disruptions, including bowel obstruction, have emerged since the drugs’ approval about three years ago. Though severe side effects are rare, around 20 cases of bowel obstruction have been reported to the FDA’s adverse reaction reporting service.
Experts, such as Dr. Dan Azagury from Stanford University, note that semaglutide’s mechanism of slowing stomach emptying could contribute to these complications. Despite the increasing number of lawsuits alleging similar issues, Novo Nordisk maintains that the risks associated with their medications are well-documented and included in FDA-approved product labeling. The company’s spokesperson asserts that the allegations made in these lawsuits are without merit.
Gantt’s attorney, Parvin Aminolroaya, criticizes Novo Nordisk for investing heavily in marketing without adequately warning patients about the potential severe gastrointestinal risks. The lawsuit contends that Ozempic manufacturer and Wegovy were not sufficiently tested for safety risks related to bowel obstruction, ischemic colitis, and other severe conditions.
This case adds to a growing list of legal challenges faced by Novo Nordisk regarding its weight-loss drugs, which have been linked to serious health issues in some patients.
