Weight-Loss drug giant sues Ohio firm in Youngstown court

A global healthcare giant has filed a federal lawsuit in Youngstown against an Ohio-based company selling weight-loss drugs, alleging false advertising and deceptive trade practices.

Novo Nordisk, the Danish pharmaceutical company behind popular semaglutide medications Ozempic, Wegovy and Rybelsus, filed the complaint Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Youngstown. The lawsuit names Amble Health Inc., an Ohio corporation with a registered business address in Southington.

According to court documents, Novo Nordisk alleges Amble Health sells "unapproved compounded drugs" that purport to contain semaglutide and are falsely advertised as "personalized." Novo Nordisk states it is the only company authorized to sell FDA-approved medicines containing semaglutide and to use the trademarks Ozempic, Wegovy and Rybelsus.

The complaint claims Amble Health's marketing is "likely to confuse and deceive consumers into mistakenly believing that they are purchasing personalized weight-loss medicines, rather than drugs mass-produced in contravention of federal law." Novo Nordisk further alleges that the compounded semaglutide products sold by Amble Health are mass-produced and not tailored to individual patients, despite Amble Health's website claims of "Personalized GLP-1 Injections" and "prescription medication, tailored to you."

The lawsuit also highlights warnings from the Food and Drug Administration regarding compounded drugs, noting they are not FDA-approved and do not undergo the same review for safety, effectiveness or quality. Novo Nordisk cites reports of adverse events, including hospitalizations, linked to dosing errors with compounded semaglutide products.

Novo Nordisk is seeking monetary damages and injunctive relief to stop Amble Health from its current advertising practices.

Amble Health's website states it is a platform connecting patients to licensed healthcare professionals online, who can recommend personalized treatment plans including prescription medication delivered to their door.

A representative for Amble Health told 21 News they have not yet seen the complaint and currently have no comment.

Although the lawsuit and Ohio Secretary of State list a Southington address for Amble Health, a woman reached at that address told 21 News she is only the registered agent for the company and is not involved in its operations.

Novo Nordisk, founded in 1923 and headquartered in Denmark, employs more than 77,000 people globally and markets its products in 170 countries. The company states its purpose is to "drive change to defeat serious chronic diseases, built upon our heritage in diabetes."