Mounjaro, a medication often prescribed for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes, has recently come under heightened scrutiny due to claims that it may cause severe or unexpected side effects. Mounjaro is a GLP-1 RA product similar to Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus, Saxenda, Victoza, Mounjaro, Zepbound, and Trulicity. In lawsuits against them, it is alleged that Novo Nordisk A/S and Novo Nordisk Inc. designed, researched, manufactured, tested, advertised, promoted, marketed, sold, and/or distributed GLP-1 RAs, including Ozempic, Rybelsus, Wegovy, Victoza, and Saxenda, and that Eli Lilly and Company designed, researched, manufactured, tested, labeled, advertised, promoted, marketed, sold, and/or distributed GLP-1 RAs, including Trulicity, Mounjaro, and Zepbound.
Individuals and families across the country, including those in Roanoke, Virginia, and the broader Southwest Virginia region, have voiced concerns about the potential dangers associated with Mounjaro and other GLP-1 RAs. As attention to these alleged complications grows, so too do the legal actions taken against the drug’s manufacturers and distributors. These legal actions have been consolidated in Multi-District Litigation (MDL). An MDL case is housed in a federal court elsewhere—here Pennsylvania—but cases from Roanoke, Salem, Blacksburg, and other areas in Southwest Virginia will eventually return to the Western District of Virginia for trial. Below, we examine the side effects, the claims plaintiffs are making, and the process for filing a lawsuit that becomes part of an MDL.
What Side Effects Is Mounjaro Alleged to Cause?
Gastrointestinal Issues and Gastroparesis
A primary concern raised by users of Mounjaro and other GLP-1 RAs relates to gastrointestinal problems. Numerous patients claim they experienced extreme nausea, persistent vomiting, and abdominal discomfort—symptoms that sometimes exceed what standard warning labels would call “mild side effects.” According to allegations similar to those noted by product liability and personal injury attorneys, some patients even developed gastroparesis, a serious condition in which the stomach muscles slow or stop moving, impairing digestion. This complication can result in extended hospital stays and ongoing medical expenses, particularly for residents of Roanoke or more rural parts of Southwest Virginia, where specialized care may be less accessible.
Necrotizing Pancreatitis
One of the most severe allegations concerning Mounjaro and other GLP-1 RAs centers on necrotizing pancreatitis, a particularly dangerous form of pancreatitis in which parts of the pancreas begin to die due to inflammation or infection. Plaintiffs in these lawsuits allege that Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly failed to sufficiently warn patients or the medical community about the risk of this life-threatening complication. Individuals suffering from necrotizing pancreatitis often experience acute abdominal pain, systemic infections, and organ dysfunction, sometimes leading to extended hospital stays and multiple surgeries. More transparent information about the potential for necrotizing pancreatitis might have altered patients’ and healthcare providers’ decisions regarding Mounjaro and other GLP-1 RAs.
Long-Term Health Risks
Another area of scrutiny relates to whether Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly appropriately studied or disclosed the long-term implications of using GLP-1 RAs. Plaintiffs from Roanoke, Salem, and across Southwest Virginia may have concerns that extended use of Mounjaro or other GLP-1 RAs might lead to conditions ranging from chronic digestive dysfunction to more severe organ damage. The question at the heart of many legal claims is whether the manufacturer conducted enough research to identify these hazards—or whether profits took precedence over patient safety.
What Are the Lawsuits Against Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly About?
Failure to Warn and Insufficient Testing
The central claim in GLP-1 RA litigation is that these drugs’ labels, marketing campaigns, and official prescribing information did not adequately convey the dangers posed by potential side effects such as gastroparesis or severe gastrointestinal distress. With diabetes being a chronic condition, patients are particularly vulnerable if critical warnings are omitted or downplayed—once they begin a regimen, they often rely on that medication long-term.
One focus of the lawsuit will be whether the drug underwent sufficient pre-market and post-market testing. The possibility that Mounjaro’s manufacturer may have failed to explore the medication’s long-term effects thoroughly fuels many of these claims. If a medication is linked to debilitating complications but patients only learn of these risks after experiencing them firsthand, courts may find the manufacturer liable for damages.
Negligence and Strict Liability
Negligence and strict liability theories provide further grounds for these GLP-1 RA lawsuits. Plaintiffs argue that the manufacturer or other parties in the drug’s supply chain breached a duty of care by not ensuring Mounjaro’s safety or by failing to notify the medical community of known risks. With strict liability, the spotlight is on whether Mounjaro and other GLP-1 RAs are “unreasonably dangerous,” placing the onus on the pharmaceutical company to demonstrate that it took every step necessary to mitigate risk.
Damages
Virginia law allows plaintiffs to seek compensation for a variety of losses, which might include medical bills, lost wages, and even pain and suffering. In more egregious cases, where evidence suggests that the manufacturer acted with reckless or wanton disregard for patient safety, punitive damages could also come into play.
What Is MDL and How Can a Lawsuit in the MDL Be Filed in Southwest Virginia?
Understanding Multi-District Litigation (MDL)
Multi-District Litigation, or MDL, consolidates separate lawsuits that share similar legal questions into a single federal court for pre-trial proceedings. In the case of Mounjaro and other GLP-1 RAs, where numerous plaintiffs nationwide report analogous side effects, an MDL can streamline complex litigation, making it easier for plaintiffs to organize and share information about the drug’s alleged risks. However, this centralized process does not alter the ultimate right of each plaintiff to have their day in court in their home jurisdiction.
Relevance to Roanoke and Southwest Virginia
An experienced attorney can help victims of Mounjaro or other GLP-1 RAs in Roanoke, Blacksburg, or another part of Southwest Virginia you file their lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia. After filing, the case would be transferred to the MDL in Pennsylvania. The pre-trial tasks—such as gathering medical records, deposing witnesses, and engaging in settlement discussions—will typically unfold in that MDL court.
It is important, however, to have a local attorney. An attorney based in Southwest Virginia will help ensure that individuals’ medical histories and circumstances remain at the forefront of the case. And because Southwest Virginia has its own healthcare networks and patient demographics, local counsel plays a crucial role in explaining how a side effect like gastroparesis can disproportionately impact someone who may have to travel long distances for specialized care.
Returning to the Western District of Virginia for Trial
One key feature of MDLs is the concept of “remand.” Although the early stages of litigation unfold in the centralized MDL court, each individual case is ultimately sent back to its original federal court if it proceeds to trial. Thus, a plaintiff from Roanoke (or any other part of Southwest Virginia) can anticipate that their case will return to the Western District of Virginia at the end of the MDL process—unless a global settlement or individual settlement agreement is reached beforehand.
This final step is vital because it allows local juries to hear the case. Having the trial take place where the plaintiff lives—surrounded by their own medical providers and community support—benefits the case both procedurally and substantively.
Do You Believe You or a Loved One Has Been Harmed by Mounjaro or Another GLP-1 RA? Contact Fishwick & Associates to Discuss Your Legal Options
The reported complications surrounding Mounjaro and other GLP-1 RAs can have serious, life-altering consequences for people across Roanoke, Virginia, and all of Southwest Virginia. Pharmaceutical companies are obligated to perform robust testing, disclose material risks, and provide accurate warnings for their medications. When they fail in this responsibility—whether through insufficient safety research or inadequate labeling—they may be held liable for the harm caused. In cases of egregious or reckless conduct, Virginia law also permits the pursuit of punitive damages in some circumstances, further underscoring the importance of accountability.
If you or someone you love has suffered adverse health effects related to Mounjaro or other GLP-1 RAs, speaking with an attorney skilled in product liability and medical injury law is essential. The experienced attorneys at Fishwick & Associates PLC understand the intricacies of filing a lawsuit in the Western District of Virginia and can guide you through each step of the process, including any potential MDL proceedings. To schedule your confidential consultation, complete our online contact form or call us at 540-345-5890.