Two Massachusetts women have filed separate federal lawsuits against pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk, of Plainsboro, alleging the company’s popular weight-loss medication Wegovy caused them to suffer permanent vision loss.
The complaints, both filed on June 6 in U.S. District Court in Trenton, claim that Novo Nordisk failed to adequately warn doctors and patients about the risk of developing Non-Arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy, also called “NAION,” a serious and irreversible condition that leads to sudden blindness.
Novo Nordisk is a Denmark corporation with its U.S. headquarters on Scudders Mill Road in Plainsboro.
The company manufactures and distributes medicines for diabetes and obesity care, including GLP-1 medications for weight loss.
A spokesperson for Novo Nordisk did not immediately respond to a call and emails seeking comment on the lawsuits.
More than a dozen lawsuits filed in New York and New Jersey claim that weight-loss drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic caused sudden vision loss due to NAION.
The lawsuits allege the condition, linked to semaglutide — the active ingredient in Ozempic, Wegovy and Rybelsus — results from a loss of blood flow to the optic nerve.
In one of the lawsuits filed recently, a 59-year-old woman says she began using Wegovy in November 2023 to manage her weight and continued injections through July 2024.
She claims that within months, she developed NAION and lost vision in her right eye. Her complaint alleges Novo Nordisk downplayed or concealed known risks while aggressively promoting the drug as a long-term solution for obesity.
A second lawsuit states another woman first used Saxenda from December 2022 to May 2023 and later switched to Wegovy until January 2024.
The woman, now 61, also developed NAION and suffered similar permanent damage to her vision.
Like the first woman, she accuses Novo Nordisk of prioritizing profits over patient safety through misleading advertising and widespread off-label promotion.
Both lawsuits detail how the drugmaker marketed the injectable medications as “miracle” treatments, targeting the U.S. weight-loss market through direct-to-consumer advertising, insurance lobbying, and telemedicine outlets.
Attorneys for the women argue that Novo Nordisk created an illusion of safety and long-term effectiveness despite evidence of serious adverse effects, limited efficacy for some users, and high discontinuation rates.
The lawsuits seek damages for personal injury, emotional distress, medical expenses, and alleged breach of warranty.
A New Jersey man is among those claiming he suffered vision loss after using weight loss drugs, the NY Post reported.
Another lawsuit was filed recently on behalf of obesity patients on Long Island, according to Newsday.
In a separate 2017 case, Novo Nordisk agreed to pay $58.65 million to settle allegations that it failed to comply with FDA safety requirements for its Type 2 diabetes drug Victoza.
The settlement includes $12.15 million in disgorgement for violations of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and $46.5 million to resolve False Claims Act allegations.
Novo Nordisk produces the GLP-1 weight loss agonists Wegovy, Ozempic, and other medications that contain semaglutide, which has been shown to lower blood sugar and support weight loss.
The company also makes Saxenda, which contains the active ingredient liraglutide, which is also used for weight management.
The medications, which are FDA-approved, slow gastric emptying, reduce appetite, and increase feelings of fullness.
Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com.