Ozempic, once celebrated as a breakthrough treatment for type 2 diabetes, is now in the dock over its soaring popularity as a weight-loss shortcut. The drug’s Danish manufacturer, Novo Nordisk, faces lawsuits worth more than $2 billion in the United States, with patients alleging severe side effects including stomach paralysis, uncontrollable vomiting and vision loss.

What began as a diabetes treatment has become a global trend, fuelled by celebrities and influencers on TikTok and Instagram, who have promoted dramatic weight-loss results. That hype has pushed demand to unprecedented levels but at a cost. Over 1,200 lawsuits have been consolidated into a case in Pennsylvania, even as Novo Nordisk insists the drug is safe when used as prescribed.

Medical experts caution that while Ozempic can deliver quick weight loss, its long-term risks are not fully known. Regulators, too, are stepping in. Kenya’s Pharmacy and Poisons Board has pointed to risks such as low blood sugar, eye problems, and intestinal obstruction due to the off-label use of semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic. 

What is ozempic, and what is it used for

Ozempic is a prescription medication whose generic name is semaglutide. It is essentially a diabetes drug that helps with blood sugar control and heart protection, but it’s now just as well known for its weight-loss side effects. It is taken as a once-weekly injection under the skin, although not originally intended for this purpose. Doctors may prescribe it “off-label” to people who are overweight or obese, which is why it has become so popular in recent years.

What do the lawsuits allege?

The lawsuits claim that manufacturers Novo Nordisk (which makes Ozempic, Wegovy and Rybelsus) and Eli Lilly (maker of Mounjaro and Trulicity) failed to give proper warnings about serious risks. People say they developed unexpected side effects ranging from stomach paralysis and intestinal blockages to vision loss, blood clots, pancreatitis — and in some cases, even life-threatening complications.

The first cases were filed in August 2023, and by September 2025 the number of active claims had climbed to 2,676. Because the complaints involve similar facts and defendants, the courts bundled them into a single multidistrict litigation (MDL No. 3094) in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, overseen by Judge Karen Marston. While no settlements or payouts have been made yet, the sheer scale of the litigation signals how these once-celebrated “miracle drugs” have also raised very real safety concerns for thousands of patients who trusted them.

Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro

The controversy comes at a time when newer drugs are also entering the weight-loss space. In India, Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro (tirzepatide) launched earlier this year with much fanfare.  Manufactured by Eli Lilly, an American pharmaceutical company,  the drug has shown significant weight loss and blood sugar benefits, leading experts to see it as a powerful tool—but not a silver bullet—for tackling a public health crisis that affects nearly a quarter of Indian adults.

According to the World Obesity Federation’s World Obesity Atlas report, if current lifestyle trends persist, over half of the global population could be overweight or obese by 2035. India is no exception. Data from the National Family Health Survey-5 (NFHS-5) suggests that nearly one in four Indians is now classified as obese. Although, Mounjaro’s arrival offers hope, experts like Dr Rajiv Kovil, Head of Diabetology at Zandra Healthcare, Mumbai, Maharashtra emphasizes that broader changes are needed.

Dr Kovil explains that Mounjaro works by activating both GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) and GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) receptors, unlike drugs like Ozempic, which target only GLP-1. 

GIP is a hormone that stimulates insulin release after eating, helping to regulate blood sugar. 

“This dual action helps Mounjaro control blood sugar by boosting insulin and lowering glucagon. It also supports weight loss by slowing digestion, reducing appetite, and promoting fat loss,” Dr Kovil adds. 

With lawsuits piling up against Ozempic and Mounjaro making headlines as the next big thing, the debate over weight-loss drugs is only getting more urgent. There is now a growing realization that obesity epidemic cannot be solved by injections alone.

Also read: Explainer: How oral semaglutide aids weight loss