Novo Nordisk Faces Over 90 Lawsuits Alleging GLP-1 Drugs Caused Vision Loss

Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of popular diabetes and weight-loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy, is facing at least 90 lawsuits in the U.S. Patients allege that these GLP-1 agonist injections have caused a condition known as non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), which can lead to irreversible vision loss.

These lawsuits, primarily filed by personal-injury firm Weitz and Luxenberg, claim the appetite-suppressing drugs damage the blood vessels at the back of the eye, leading to NAION, sometimes referred to as an 'eye stroke.' The UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has issued a warning linking the injections to this condition.

One claimant, Michelle Fennell, 53, reported blurred vision and a heavy feeling in her right eye about six months after starting Ozempic for type 2 diabetes. She was diagnosed with NAION two weeks later and advised to stop the medication.

Another patient, Jay Vandegriff, 69, who was also taking Ozempic for type 2 diabetes, experienced vision changes he initially mistook for smudges on his glasses. He was later diagnosed with NAION, which he states has severely impacted his sight in his left eye.

NAION occurs when blood flow to the optic nerve is reduced or blocked, depriving it of oxygen and causing sudden, often permanent, vision loss. While studies suggest risk factors for NAION include age, smoking, diabetes, and high blood pressure, experts are exploring the potential role of GLP-1 medications. Some research indicates users of semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy, may be up to four times more likely to develop the condition compared to those on other diabetes treatments, although other studies have not found a similar increased incidence when compared to placebo.

Doctors note that the condition is already more common in individuals with type 2 diabetes, making it challenging to isolate the precise impact of the medications versus the underlying disease. Kevin Gendreau, an obesity medicine expert, stated that while the issue warrants further study, it should not cause widespread panic among patients.

Novo Nordisk maintains that the lawsuits are without merit and is vigorously defending against them. The company states that a causal relationship between semaglutide and NAION has not been established and that patient safety is a top priority. They highlight a company-funded analysis published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology earlier this year, which found no increased incidence of NAION in patients taking their drugs compared to a placebo.

Eli Lilly, the maker of Mounjaro, is also facing a smaller number of similar claims. A spokesperson for Eli Lilly acknowledged publications on the potential risk of NAION with GLP-1 medicines and encouraged healthcare professionals to use their clinical judgment when evaluating external literature, emphasizing that patient safety is their top priority.