Thousands Sue Weight Loss Drug Manufacturers With Serious Harm AllegationsBy Anthony Yates Thousands of people have come forward alleging serious harm caused by GLP-1 weight loss drugs. Those products include Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro. According to a report by USA Today, at least 4,400 people have filed lawsuits since the first was filed in 2023. Those suits are now part of a consolidated federal and state litigation and target two drugmakers: Novo Nordisk, which manufactures Ozempic, and Eli Lilly, which makes Trulicity, Mounjaro, and Zepbound. The companies reportedly said they refute the allegations and will defend the safety of their products. The USA Today report focuses on three troubling cases in the growing lawsuit. 63-year-old Todd Engel was using Ozempic to manage his diabetes. However, he told the outlet that he lost vision in one eye after using the drug for four months. His medication reportedly never came up as a potential cause of his sight loss, and he lost vision in his other eye months later. 72-year-old JoHelen McClain reportedly used Wegovy in November 2023, aiming to shed a few pounds. In March 2024, she heard a noise like a "balloon popping," which she later discovered was the sound of her colon rupturing. USA Today also interviewed Mark Smith. He told the outlet that his wife, 62-year-old Robin Smith, was taking Mounjaro for weight loss. She reportedly visited the hospital twice for vomiting. Her doctor suggested she stop using the drug, but her problems persisted. Days later, doctors diagnosed her with Wernicke's encephalopathy, which the outlet explains is a neurological condition caused by a lack of thiamine or Vitamin B1. It's often linked to malnutrition. The outlet points out that an estimated 12% of Americans use GLP-1 weight-loss drugs and that the plaintiff's account for a small percentage of users. USA Today also cites a 2024 court filing by the two drug companies. They explain that the known risks are reflected in FDA-approved labeling, which the FDA has reviewed more than 40 times. USA Today details a Gallup Study, which claims that the usage of GLP-1 drugs doubled between 2024 and 2025.Chief of Research and Development at the St. Louis Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Ziyad Al-Aly, reportedly stated that no medicine is risk-free. However, he believes the benefits outweigh the risks for most patients. Legal challenges are expected to take several years. ARTICLE SOURCE: https://screenrant.com/thousands-sue-weight-loss-drug-manufacturers/
FDA Clears First Over-the-Counter Continuous Glucose Monitor
Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration cleared for marketing the first over-the-counter (OTC) continuous glucose monitor (CGM). The Dexcom Stelo Glucose Biosensor System is an integrated CGM (iCGM) intended for anyone 18 years and older who does not use insulin, such as individuals with diabetes treating their condition with oral medications, or those without diabetes who want to better understand how diet and exercise may impact blood sugar levels. Importantly, this system is not for individuals with problematic hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) as the system is not designed to alert the user to this potentially dangerous condition.
“CGMs can be a powerful tool to help monitor blood glucose. Today’s clearance expands access to these devices by allowing individuals to purchase a CGM without the involvement of a health care provider,” said Jeff Shuren, M.D., J.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health. “Giving more individuals valuable information about their health, regardless of their access to a doctor or health insurance, is an important step forward in advancing health equity for U.S. patients.”
The Stelo Glucose Biosensor System uses a wearable sensor, paired with an application installed on a user’s smartphone or other smart device, to continuously measure, record, analyze and display glucose values in people 18 years and older that are not on insulin and who do not have problematic hypoglycemia. Users can wear each sensor up to 15 days before replacing with a new sensor. The device presents blood glucose measurements and trends every 15 minutes in the accompanying app. Users should not make medical decisions based on the device’s output without talking to their healthcare provider.
Data from a clinical study provided to the FDA showed that the device performed similarly to other iCGMs. Adverse events reported in the study included local infection, skin irritation and pain or discomfort.
As part of the Center for Devices and Radiological Health’s strategic priority to advance health equity, CDRH will continue to support innovation that addresses health equity by moving care and wellness into the home setting.
ARTICLE SOURCE: https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-clears-first-over-counter-continuous-glucose-monitor
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