In response to a Louisiana woman's lawsuit, Novo Nordisk said "gastrointestinal events are well known side effects" of Ozempic and asked the court to dismiss the case, according to documents filed Nov. 3.
Jaclyn Bjorklund filed suit in August against Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly over claims that their drugs, Ozempic and Mounjaro, respectively, induced gastroparesis. The condition is when the stomach muscles freeze up in paralysis, which blocks food moving from the stomach to the small intestine. She also allegedly experienced gastroparesis, multiple hospitalizations and teeth falling out because of violent vomiting, according to the lawsuit.
Delayed gastric emptying is mentioned on Ozempic's label, but the more severe side effect — gastroparesis — is not.
A 31-page amended complaint was filed Aug. 25, and Novo Nordisk responded Nov. 3 with more than 650 pages arguing why Ms. Bjorklund's lawsuit should be dismissed.
The Denmark-based drugmaker said the complaint does not mention who prescribed these medications, if the provider told Ms. Bjorklund of potential side effects, or what condition the drugs were intended to treat — Ozempic and Mounjaro are approved for Type 2 diabetes, but are commonly used off-label for weight loss.
Novo Nordisk said the lawsuit leans on "shotgun pleading" instead of "plausible allegations." Eli Lilly has not submitted a response.