If you or a loved one developed vision loss while taking Ozempic or Wegovy, you may be eligible for a lawsuit. Learn more and get a free case review: https://www.drugwatch.com/drugs/ozempic/vision-loss/
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Tens of millions of Americans are taking GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy. Doctors are prescribing them, telehealth companies are handing them out online, and the demand shows no signs of slowing down. But there’s a serious risk not listed on the U.S. warning label, even though it appears on labels in more than 30 countries around the world.
It’s called NAION, non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, which results in sudden, largely irreversible vision loss. People experiencing it wake up one morning simply unable to see out of one or both eyes. There are already more than 800 reports of NAION filed with the FDA, with research suggesting that number represents only a fraction of the real total.
In this episode, attorney and consumer safety advocate Whitney Di Bona sits down with Ellen Relkin, partner and Chair of the Defective Drugs and Devices Department at Weitz and Luxenberg, and court-appointed co-lead counsel in the New Jersey multicounty litigation against Novo Nordisk. Over her 40-year career, Ellen has helped secure some of the largest pharmaceutical settlements in history. She is on the front lines of this litigation every single day.
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Topics covered in this episode:
What NAION is, what it does to your vision and why there is currently no known treatment.
How a Harvard study first identified a dramatically increased risk of NAION in patients using semaglutide and how the science has continued to evolve since.
Why a NAION warning appears on drug labels in more than 30 countries, including the UK, Australia and Korea, but not in the United States.
The difference between the New Jersey multicounty litigation and the federal MDL in Philadelphia and why Ellen believes New Jersey is the better venue for plaintiffs.
The preemption defense Novo Nordisk is using in federal court and why Ellen calls it bogus.
What a "disc at risk" is and why the American Optometric Association recommends getting a baseline eye exam before starting any GLP-1 medication.
The compounded GLP-1 market, the telehealth companies, online prescribers and compounding pharmacies, and why those cases present unique legal challenges.
Why the FDA has still not added a NAION warning to US labels despite mounting evidence that GLP-1 can lead to blindness.
Who qualifies to file a lawsuit and what plaintiffs need to show.
A truck driver who lost his livelihood. A patient still on the drug who was never told about the connection. The human cost behind these cases.
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Resources & Links:
- Learn more about the Ozempic and Wegovy vision loss lawsuits: https://www.drugwatch.com/drugs/ozempic/vision-loss/
- Stay up to date on all dangerous drug litigation: drugwatch.com
Note: Always consult with health and legal professionals for personalized advice. The information provided reflects current research and advocacy efforts. Nothing in this podcast constitutes legal or medical advice. The opinions of our guests do not necessarily reflect those of Drugwatch.
