MDL stands for Multidistrict Litigation—a federal court process used to coordinate many similar lawsuits so evidence, expert issues, and pretrial rulings can be handled efficiently. In GLP-1 litigation, multiple MDLs now exist, reflecting different alleged injury types.
What an MDL Is
An MDL is not a “class action.” Instead, it is a structure where:
- similar federal lawsuits are transferred into one court
- one judge manages coordinated pretrial proceedings
- cases may later settle, be resolved, or (sometimes) be sent back to their home courts for trial
There is not a single Ozempic class action lawsuit in the United States. There are no GLP-1 class action lawsuits in the U.S. There are two GLP-1 MDLs in the United States (MDL 3094 and MDL 3163). There are also two Multicounty GLP-1 litigations pending in New Jersey state court. The intent of centralization of lawsuits into an MDL:
- stop duplicative discovery
- end variable and inconsistent pretrial decisions, orders and rulings
- conserve judicial resources
- conserve litigant resources
28 U.S.C. § 1407defines Multidistrict litigation: “When civil actions involving one or more common questions of fact are pending in different districts, such actions may be transferred to any district for coordinated or consolidated pretrial proceedings. Such transfers shall be made by the judicial panel on multidistrict litigation authorized by this section upon its determination that transfers for such proceedings will be for the convenience of parties and witnesses and will promote the just and efficient conduct of such actions. Each action so transferred shall be remanded by the panel at or before the conclusion of such pretrial proceedings to the district from which it was transferred unless it shall have been previously terminated: Provided, however, That the panel may separate any claim, cross-claim, counter-claim, or third-party claim and remand any of such claims before the remainder of the action is remanded.”28 U.S.C. § 1407,
The Two Key GLP-1 Federal MDLs Right Now
A) MDL 3094 — GI Injuries (Gastroparesis, Ileus, Intestinal Obstruction)
This MDL is titled In re: GLP-1 Receptor Agonists Products Liability Litigation (MDL No. 3094) and is based in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. The official name of the MDL is: “In Re Glucagonlike Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 3094.”
This MDL generally involves alleged injuries such as:
The official name of the main Ozempic lawsuit is: “.”
- gastroparesis / stomach paralysis
- ileus / bowel shutdown
- intestinal obstruction
- severe vomiting → dehydration → organ complications
➡️ Related injury hubs:
Judge Marston determined 2026 scheduling deadlines for GLP-1 MDL 3094:
Case management order #29 (PDF)
- Serve expert reports by on or before January 2, 2026.
- The manufacturer’s were provided a compliance deadline by February 12th, 2026.
- Plaintiffs must rebut the manufacturer’s expert testimony reports by February 23, 2026.
- Lawyers must finish expert depositions by April 10th, 2026.
- Deadline for motions to exclude expert testimony by April 28, 2026.
- Summary judgment motions need to be e-filed by April 30th.
- Legal briefs related to summary judgment motions must be e-filed by on or before June 16, 2026.
- Objections to summary judgment motions needs be e-filed prior to July 24th, 2026.
The panel reasoned that there would be a lot of overlap between pretrial proceedings in the two MDLs. Some victims assert that they have diagnosis for both gastrointestinal side effects and vision loss problems. The panel stated that the NAION lawsuits related to the exact same manufacturers and the same victims’ attorneys. The panel also praised Judge Marston, reasoning that “Marston thus is uniquely well-positioned to advance this litigation efficiently.”
B) MDL 3163 — Vision Loss (NAION)
In mid-December 2026, a federal judicial panel created a separate MDL for lawsuits alleging GLP-1 drugs caused non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION)—a condition sometimes described as a sudden “eye stroke.” Reuters reported the new MDL is also assigned to U.S. District Judge Karen S. Marston in Philadelphia.
➡️ Naion Vision Loss
The United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation is a federal panel which manages mass tort federal litigation. The panel of judges took the side of victims and their glp-1 attorneys. The panel determined that eye damage will be centralized in a distinct and separate MDL than the GLP-1 Gastrointestinal side effect MDL. The vision loss complications lawsuits are consolidated in MDL No. 3163 in UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA with Judge Karen S. Marston presiding. The federal GLP-1 vision loss MDL (3163) and the Ozempic stomach side effects MDL (3094) will be before a Philadelphia federal court heard by the honorable Judge Marston.
Why There Are Separate MDLs
Courts often separate MDLs when the cases involve different core injuries, different medical causation questions, and different expert proof.
- MDL 3094: focuses on gastrointestinal/motility injury allegations
- MDL 3163: focuses on NAION/vision loss allegations
What Joining an MDL Means for a Claimant
If your case is in (or transferred into) an MDL, it typically means:
- your case is still your individual lawsuit (not merged into one case)
- evidence and key rulings may be handled in a coordinated way
- the process may move toward bellwether trials and/or structured settlement discussions
➡️ See: Legal Process
➡️ See: Settlements
Do You Have to File in Federal Court?
Not always. Many claimants have:
- federal cases (potentially consolidated into an MDL)
- state court cases (which may be coordinated through state proceedings)
A case review typically determines the best path based on your injury type, timing, and jurisdiction.
What Matters Most Regardless of MDL
Whether a case ends up in an MDL or not, strength usually comes down to:
- serious injury (hospitalization, surgery, organ impairment)
- objective medical proof (labs/imaging/motility testing)
- clear timeline (drug use → symptoms → diagnosis)
- persistence or long-term harm
➡️ Evidence: Medical Records
➡️ Screening factors: What Lawyers Look For
What is the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict litigation?
The United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation, described as the “MDL Panel” in many circles was created by a congressional act in 1968. The law that established the panel is 28 U.S.C. §1407. “The job of the Panel is to (1) determine whether civil actions pending in different federal districts involve one or more common questions of fact such that the actions should be transferred to one federal district for coordinated or consolidated pretrial proceedings; and (2) select the judge or judges and court assigned to conduct such proceedings.”
The Judicial panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML), determines if GLP-1 lawsuits must be consolidated into an MDL. The distinguished panel determines where the GLP-1 lawsuits should be transferred to.
Vision Loss (NAION) MDL — Separate From GI Injury MDL
GLP-1 lawsuits involving blindness and NAION (Non-Arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy) are being handled in a separate federal MDL from gastroparesis and gastrointestinal injury claims.
This separation reflects:
- different medical causation questions
- different expert specialties (ophthalmology vs GI)
- the permanent nature of vision loss injuries
➡️ Vision loss injury hub: /lawsuits/blindness-naion/
➡️ Ozempic NAION cases: /ozempic/side-effects/blindness-naion/
Start a Claim Review
You can begin with minimal information (records not required to start):
➡️ File a Claim
➡️ Criteria
➡️ Statute of Limitations