Ozempic and other drugs used to treat Type 2 diabetes are under fire in court - but what does this mean for the future of pharmaceutical drugs marketed for weight loss? The manufacturers of the most popular weight loss drugs are being challenged in court. A federal court in Philadelphia will soon evaluate claims against the makers of Ozempic, Wegovy and similar products. Dozens of patients who suffered gastrointestinal problems after taking these drugs brought lawsuits alleging that these companies failed to properly warn patients about the risks.
Weight loss drugs are among the most successful products sold in the US, with prescriptions rising fortyfold from 2018 to 2023. Scientific studies have backed up their safety and efficacy, and doctors prescribe them for a variety of reasons, including to lower the risk of heart attack and other cardiovascular events. Over the past few years, celebrities and word of mouth made these drugs go viral on social media.
More than 15 million Americans have reported using these drugs as of May 2024. So what do patients’ claims about the risks associated with weight loss drugs mean for the future of these products? I’m a health law professor who studies pharmaceutical drug regulation and access to medicines, and I’ve been watching the legal developments closely. Regardless of how the trial turns out, I think it could have a big impact on public trust and on the market for weight loss drugs.
The drugs: Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus, Trulicit.
