Ozempic Blindness Lawsuit Alleges Novo Nordisk Concealed NAION Risks

Lawsuit claims manufacturer had information dating back more than a decade that linked GLP-1 drugs to vision loss, but failed to act.

A Nevada woman has filed a lawsuit alleging that when she was prescribed Ozempic she was told the drug would help control her blood glucose levels and possibly cause her to lose a little weight, but not that she was at risk of losing her sight.

The complaint (PDF) was brought by Maria David Patten in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania on October 19, naming Novo Nordisk Inc., Ozempic’s manufacturer, as the defendant.

Patten claims the company failed to warn the medical community and patients of the potential risks of permanent blindness as a side effect of Ozempic injections, indicating she has suffered sudden and significant vision loss as a result. Doctors have allegedly informed Patten that her loss of sight is permanent.

Ozempic Blindness Risks

Ozempic (semaglutide) belongs to a class of medications known as GLP-1 receptor agonists and was originally approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Soon it became apparent that the injections also carried noticeable weight loss benefits, leading to an explosion in popularity and a weight loss version known as Wegovy that uses the same active ingredient.

However, recent studies have revealed that Ozempic and other GLP-1 medications, like Mounjaro, Zepbound, Victoza, Rybelsus and Trulicity, may be linked to a rare vision disorder known as non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). The condition can starve the optic nerve of blood, resulting in sudden and permanent vision loss.

In July 2024, Harvard researchers published a study warning that GLP-1 side effects could increase the risk of NAION. The strongest association was with semaglutide-based drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, with data indicating patients given either drug were seven times more likely to develop NAION than those given other treatments.

A number of Ozempic and Wegovy blindness lawsuits are being filed nationwide against Novo Nordisk, indicating the manufacturer knew, or should have known the risks of Ozempic vision loss side effects, but chose to protect its profits instead of patients’ eyesight.

Ozempic Blindness Allegations

According to the complaint, Patten first began giving herself Ozempic injections in August 2022, as directed by her doctor. A little over a year later, in October 2023, she experienced sudden vision loss.

Medical diagnoses revealed that Pattern had developed NAION and ceased use of Ozempic in October 2023. However, her eyesight allegedly continued to worsen.

By May 2024, Patten began suffering from disc edema OS, which is a swelling of the left optic disk, causing blurry vision, dark spots in the field of vision, severe headaches, nausea and other adverse health effects. The lawsuit notes that she has suffered significant loss of vision, which is permanent and has had life-altering effects.

Patten’s lawsuit alleges that the medical community has known since at least 2016 that the eyes contain GLP-1 receptors, with the earliest optic ischemic neuropathy event linked to the medications in 2012, and specifically associated with semaglutide in 2019.

The lawsuit notes that Ozempic’s warning label still does not mention NAION.

“Ms. Patten will never see clearly again as a result of her usage of Ozempic. Novo Nordisk knew or should have known that the use of semaglutide could lead to severe and debilitating injuries suffered by Plaintiff and numerous other patients. Novo Nordisk continues to downplay the risk of NAION and has not changed or provided any warnings to the public and medical community.”

– Maria David Patten v. Novo Nordisk Inc. et al.

The filing presents claims of failure to warn, breach of warranty, fraudulent concealment, fraudulent misrepresentation and negligent misrepresentation. It seeks both compensatory and punitive damages.

Ozempic Lawsuits

Patten’s complaint will be consolidated with other Ozempic blindness lawsuits and similar vision loss claims involving GLP-1 medications in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, where U.S. District Judge Karen Marston is overseeing coordinated pretrial proceedings as part of a federal multidistrict litigation (MDL).

Judge Marston is also presiding over a separate group of GLP-1 lawsuits involving gastrointestinal injuries, including stomach paralysis and bowel obstruction. Although the two groups of cases are proceeding on separate tracks, the litigation involves overlapping discovery and coordinated pretrial proceedings.

As the litigation moves forward, Judge Marston is expected to establish a bellwether trial process, selecting a small group of representative cases to go before juries. These early trials will help the parties evaluate how juries may respond to evidence and testimony likely to be repeated throughout the litigation.

The Ozempic stomach paralysis lawsuits are expected to reach trial first, and the outcomes will be closely watched for indications of how juries may evaluate claims against the drugmakers. While the injuries and allegations differ, the early verdicts could influence settlement negotiations involving both Ozempic stomach paralysis and blindness lawsuits.

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