GLP-1 drug makers face lawsuits alleging vision loss linked to NAION
Manufacturers of GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic and Zepbound are being sued by patients who claim the drugs caused nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, a rare condition that can lead to permanent vision loss.
Patients have filed nearly 100 lawsuits in New Jersey and additional cases in Philadelphia alleging that GLP-1 drugs, including Ozempic and Zepbound, caused nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), a rare eye disorder that can result in sudden, often permanent, vision loss. The plaintiffs argue that manufacturers failed to warn users about this potential side effect.
NAION occurs when insufficient blood flow reaches part of the optic nerve. It typically affects individuals aged 50 and older, and its exact causes remain unclear. Research on the association between GLP-1 medications and NAION is mixed; some studies suggest an increased risk, while others find no link. One study that reported a positive association used data from a specialized eye-care institution rather than a general population sample.
Experts note that NAION is uncommon among GLP-1 users. Even if semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy, doubled the risk, the incidence would be about two cases per 10,000 patients, according to a Wall Street Journal analysis.
Novo Nordisk, the maker of Ozempic and Wegovy, and Eli Lilly, producer of Zepbound, deny a causal relationship. Novo said, "Semaglutide has a well-established safety profile, supported by robust clinical development programs, with exposure from post-marketing use of over 58 million patient-years across oral and injectable formulations in obesity and type 2 diabetes." Both companies point out that diabetes itself raises the risk of blindness and related eye conditions.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is reviewing the possible connection, though current GLP-1 labels do not mention NAION. Some regulatory agencies in the EU, U.K., Australia and Japan require warnings about the condition on certain GLP-1 products. Healthcare providers advise patients to discuss the risks and benefits of these medications with their doctors.