Victoza Side Effects and Lawsuits

Victoza (liraglutide) is a Type 2 diabetes medication. Pairing Victoza with exercise and a proper diet can help patients control their blood sugar levels. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Victoza in 2010.

Since then, the drug has become quite popular. It has certainly become a financial success for its manufacturer, Novo Nordisk. But analysts predict that future drug sales will decline because of negative publicity surrounding Victoza's side effects.

Here, we'll describe some of the serious side effects of Victoza. We will also discuss a brief history of Victoza lawsuits. Finally, we'll explain what to do if you become sick after taking Victoza or any other diabetes drug.

How Victoza Works

Type 2 diabetes impairs your body's ability to produce insulin. Insulin is a hormone that prevents sugar from building up in the bloodstream. Victoza is part of a class of drugs we call "incretin mimetics." These drugs mimic the natural hormone GLP-1 (glucagon-like-peptide-1), thereby increasing insulin production in the pancreas. GLP-1 hormones help regulate:

• Blood sugar levels
• Insulin levels
• Ingestion

Victoza may also help with weight loss. Victoza slows down food movement in the stomach. This delays digestion, which, in turn, suppresses your appetite. It's important to note that the FDA hasn't approved Victoza for weight loss.

Common Victoza Side Effects

All prescription drugs have potential side effects. Before you take any medicine, balance the drug's benefits with its adverse side effects.

In clinical trials of Victoza, the most common side effects included:

• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Headache
• Allergic reactions
• Constipation
• Low blood sugar levels
• Abdominal pain

Most of these side effects are minor. If you can tolerate them, you can continue taking Victoza. But you also risk more severe health complications if you choose to take Victoza.

Severe Health Complications for Patients Taking Victoza

Researchers have linked Victoza to severe, potentially life-threatening complications. These serious health risks have led many plaintiffs to sue Novo Nordisk. Talk to your doctor about these risks before agreeing to take this medication.

Thyroid Cancer

After reviewing the results of several animal studies, the FDA announced that Victoza caused tumors in the thyroid glands of rats and mice. Some of these thyroid tumors were cancerous. As a result, the FDA required the drug manufacturer to place a black box warning on the drug's label.

The FDA clarified that there was no evidence that Victoza causes tumors in humans. But the FDA still recommended that patients and healthcare professionals not consider Victoza the first option. The FDA further advised that patients with thyroid cancer or a family history of thyroid cancer should not take Victoza.

Gallbladder Disease

Some patients who took Victoza developed gallbladder disease. For some, this meant gallbladder stones. Other patients suffered from gallbladder cancer or cholecystitis. Many patients had to undergo surgery to fix the problems.

Any drug interfering with your body's digestive functions can impact your gallbladder. If you experience the symptoms of gallbladder disease, talk to your healthcare provider immediately. They may need to switch you to a different medication. Or they may be able to reduce your dose of Victoza.

Pancreatitis

Another serious complication of Victoza is acute pancreatitis, a pancreas inflammation. Studies found that patients taking Victoza suffered pancreatitis more often than patients who took other diabetes medications.

Symptoms of pancreatitis include severe stomach pain, back pain, and vomiting. If left untreated, pancreatitis can be fatal. While the FDA didn't order Novo Nordisk to add a special warning about pancreatitis, it issued safety communications to doctors. The FDA requires doctors to monitor their Victoza patients for these symptoms closely.

Pancreatic Cancer

In 2013, the FDA announced that it planned to investigate whether incretin mimetics increased the risk of pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. The FDA commenced its study after learning that medical researchers found pre-cancerous cells in tissue samples taken from patients who died after using incretin mimetics.

As of May 2014, the FDA had not announced whether incretin mimetics pose an increased risk of pancreatitis or pancreatic cancer. Physicians should remind patients taking incretin mimetics to document their reactions to the drug for indications they may have cancer.

Victoza Lawsuits

The FDA requires drug manufacturers to test certain drugs for potential health risks. Specifically, the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act required Novo Nordisk to investigate whether Victoza caused medullary thyroid carcinoma (thyroid cancer).

Not only did the drug company fail to test for these risks, but it also misled doctors by downplaying the need to test Victoza for cancer risks. As a result, the federal government sued Novo Nordisk. It alleged that the company violated both the FDCA and the False Claims Act.

In September 2017, the drugmaker agreed to pay $58 million in fines and penalties.

In 2013, the Victoza multidistrict litigation (MDL) was underway in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California. The class action lawsuit began when a young woman named Jessica Ryan sued Novo Nordisk after her mother died from pancreatic cancer in May 2013. Plaintiffs in the class action lawsuit also filed claims against the makers of Byetta, Januvia, and Janumet.

Over time, the MDL grew to more than 1,500 plaintiffs. The plaintiffs in this case argued that Novo Nordisk failed to warn about Victoza's risk of pancreatic and thyroid cancer. Unfortunately for the plaintiffs, the district court judge excluded their only expert witness.

The defendants, which included Novo Nordisk, argued that the plaintiff's expert witness was the only one in their field who believed Victoza caused cancer. The judge agreed and ruled that the expert couldn't testify. As a result, the judge granted summary judgment in favor of the defendants.

In March 2022, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the lower court's ruling. This brought a close to the MDL in California.

Can You Still File a Legal Claim Against Novo Nordisk?

Victoza patients who believe they've developed a severe health condition from taking the drug can file a lawsuit against Novo Nordisk. Successful plaintiffs could receive compensation for their injuries, including the following:

• Lost wages
• Medical expenses
• Pain and suffering

Many of these lawsuits will fall under product liability law. This area of law imposes a duty on manufacturers and sellers to ensure the products they place in the market are free from unexpected dangers or defects.

For a product liability suit to succeed, the plaintiff must prove two elements. First, they must show that the product was defective. Second, they must demonstrate that this defect caused their injuries.

With a Victoza product liability case, your personal injury lawyer must show that Novo Nordisk failed to warn about specific dangers. You must then show that this behavior caused your injuries. Now that the drug company has added warnings to their drug packaging, proving that they breached their legal duty may be difficult.

Seeking Legal Advice

If you're considering legal action against Novo Nordisk or a Victoza lawsuit, consult a product liability attorney to discuss your legal options. Time is of the essence. If you don't file your lawsuit before the statute of limitations period ends, the court will dismiss your claim.

Most law firms offer new clients a free case evaluation. Discussing your case with an experienced dangerous drug attorney can help determine whether you have a valid claim.

Visit FindLaw.com's attorney directory to find a lawyer near you.