Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus Lawsuit

Patients who trusted Ozempic, Wegovy, or Rybelsus were not warned about the serious risk of NAION, a condition that causes irreversible vision loss. At Weitz & Luxenberg, we believe patients deserve justice. This is why our team of attorneys is pursuing cases of severe vision loss due to NAION in adults who took Ozempic, Wegovy, or Rybelsus for diabetes management or weight loss. A large study out of the Harvard Medical School revealed a strong association between these drugs and the development of NAION. ⁽¹⁾

There are similar injectable drugs on the market, such as Mounjaro and Zepbound (tirzepatide) or Victoza and Saxenda (liraglutide). These may also be shown in the future to have side effects affecting your vision.

If you used a semaglutide injection and had a loss in your vision, reach out to us today. We can help you explore your legal options and get justice for your injury, and the financial compensation you deserve.

Can Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus Cause Blindness?

The lawsuits are based on the fact that people were not warned that Ozempic or Wegovy were associated with NAION and that the manufacturer knew, or should have known, about this association. Recent studies have raised these concerns. Research “findings suggest an association between semaglutide and NAION.” ⁽²⁾

In December 2024, a large cohort study from leading research centers in Denmark and Norway (Denmark is home to Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of these drugs), was released comparing the risk of NAION among individuals with type 2 diabetes using semaglutide compared to those using sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2s), another diabetes medication. This study confirmed “an association between use of semaglutide for type 2 diabetes and risk of NAION, with a more than two-fold increased hazard ratio.” ⁽³⁾

“Despite all the hoopla on the benefits of these medications, it is often overlooked that the drugs you take can hurt you. Nonarteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy is a very serious condition and is a significant cause of blindness,” says Ellen Relkin, W&L partner and practice group chair of our firm’s Drug and Medical Device Litigation unit. “After taking Ozempic, Wegovy, or Rybelsus some people develop this unusual condition that causes irreparable damage to their vision. They were never warned of these serious risks. As someone who has lost vision entirely in one eye (from a different cause), I can fully empathize with the life altering impact of vision loss.”

She continues, “Patients would not suspect that taking a drug to treat diabetes or to lose weight could damage their optic nerve. The connection was observed by astute neuro-ophthalmologists at Harvard who noticed what seemed to be a large number of their patients with NAION and who had been prescribed Ozempic or Wegovy. This prompted these concerned clinicians to conduct a large retrospective matched cohort study of their patients at Massachusetts Eye and Ear in Boston. It is concerning that the patient inserts about these medications entirely fail to warn about this devastating condition.”

NAION and Vision Loss

NAION “is a potentially debilitating condition that occurs from a lack of sufficient blood flow to the optic nerve.” This nerve “is the cable that connects the brain to the eye and carries millions of nerve fibers and blood vessels.” ⁽⁴⁾

Sometimes, a blood vessel feeding the optic nerve can be totally blocked. Sometimes, blood flow to one half of the nerve is inadequate. ⁽⁵⁾

Both types can lead to vision loss. In effect, the optic nerve does not receive the nutrients and oxygen it needs. The end result is blindness. ⁽⁶⁾

NAION Symptoms

If you have NAION, you may have no warning before experiencing vision loss. However, most patients do notice some loss of vision in one eye when they wake up in the morning. ⁽⁷⁾

Other people may notice a shadow or darkened area in your vision. This darkness might affect either the upper or lower portions of your visual field. Loss of contrast and light sensitivity are other possible symptoms of NAION. ⁽⁸⁾

Treatment for NAION

There is no medication or surgery to treat NAION. Depending on the cause of your NAION, your vision loss may be stable. However, it could worsen over a few weeks. ⁽⁹⁾

In worst-case scenarios, you could lose vision and be blind in both eyes, not just one. ⁽¹⁰⁾

Using of Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus Semaglutides

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), semaglutide is a type of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. It mimics a hormone the human body releases in the gastrointestinal tract when you eat something. ⁽¹¹⁾

This hormone prompts your body to produce more insulin, which lowers blood sugar. In higher amounts, this hormone “interacts with the parts of the brain that reduce appetite and signal a feeling of fullness.” ⁽¹²⁾

The FDA has approved three semaglutide medications: ⁽¹³⁾

• Ozempic injections are intended to lower blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes.
• Ozempic is also prescribed to reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, or death in patients with type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
• Wegovy injection is intended to help both adults and children over 12 years of age with obesity and other weight related conditions.
• Rybelsus was the first non-injection glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist approved to improve blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes. ⁽¹⁴⁾

Reach Out to Weitz & Luxenberg for Your Optic Nerve Eye Injury Case

The attorneys at W&L urge you to contact us if you used Ozempic, Wegovy, or Rybelsus at any time since January 2018 and were diagnosed with NAION.

You may have a successful lawsuit if you were diagnosed with NAION after receiving at least one administration of either medication. Talk with a member of our team by filling out our form, or calling us for more information at (833) 977-3437.

Our attorneys are reviewing cases of people harmed by Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus. Reach out to us if you developed severe vision loss, so we can help you get any financial compensation you deserve.

At Weitz & Luxenberg, our qualified legal team of defective drugs and medical devices attorneys is prepared to take on large corporations nationwide. We can help you explore your legal options, provide guidance, and help you get compensation for your pain and suffering due to your vision loss.

Since the mid-1980s, our attorneys have secured more than $19 billion on behalf of clients who suffered severe injuries due to the actions or inactions of others.

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