Two women from Massachusetts have filed separate federal lawsuits against Plainsboro-based pharmaceutical firm Novo Nordisk, claiming that the company’s well-known weight-loss drug Wegovy caused them to lose their vision permanently.
Novo Nordisk is accused of failing to sufficiently warn physicians and patients about the risk of developing Non-Arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy, or NAION, a dangerous and irreversible condition that causes sudden blindness. The complaints were both filed on June 6 in U.S. District Court in Trenton.
The U.S. headquarters of the Danish company Novo Nordisk are located in Plainsboro on Scudders Mill Road.
The business produces and sells treatments for diabetes and obesity, notably weight-loss GLP-1 drugs.
A call and email requesting comment on the claims were not immediately answered by a Novo Nordisk representative.
Weight-reduction medications like Wegovy and Ozempic are accused of causing abrupt vision loss because to NAION in over a dozen lawsuits filed in New York and New Jersey.
According to the complaints, the condition is caused by a reduction in blood flow to the optic nerve and is associated with semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus.
A 59-year-old lady claims in one of the newly filed complaints that she started using Wegovy in November 2023 to control her weight and kept getting injections until July 2024.
She says she lost vision in her right eye and acquired NAION within months. According to her complaint, Novo Nordisk aggressively promoted the medication as a long-term treatment for obesity while downplaying or hiding recognized hazards.
Another woman allegedly used Saxenda from December 2022 to May 2023 before switching to Wegovy until January 2024, according to a second lawsuit.
The 61-year-old woman experienced comparable irreversible visual impairment after developing NAION.
She, like the first woman, accuses Novo Nordisk of using deceptive advertising and extensive off-label promotion to put profits ahead of patient safety.
Through direct-to-consumer advertising, insurance lobbying, and telemedicine sources, the manufacturer targeted the U.S. weight-loss market by marketing the injectable drugs as miracle treatments, according to both complaints.
The women’s lawyers contend that Novo Nordisk produced a false sense of safety and long-term success in spite of data showing severe side effects, low effectiveness for certain users, and high rates of cessation.
The cases seek damages for alleged warranty breaches, medical costs, mental distress, and personal injury.
According to the NY Post, a man from New Jersey is one of those who claims that utilizing weight-loss medications caused him to lose his vision.
According to Newsday, a new lawsuit was recently filed on behalf of Long Island patients who suffer from obesity.
In a different 2017 lawsuit, Novo Nordisk consented to pay $58.65 million to resolve claims that it had not complied with FDA safety regulations on Victoza, a medication used to treat Type 2 diabetes.
The settlement comprises $46.5 million to satisfy False Claims Act claims and $12.15 million in indisgorgement for Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act breaches.
The GLP-1 weight loss agonists Wegovy, Ozempic, and other drugs containing semaglutide—which has been demonstrated to reduce blood sugar and aid in weight loss—are manufactured by Novo Nordisk.
Additionally, the company manufactures Saxenda, a weight-management medication that contains the active component liraglutide.
The FDA-approved drugs decrease hunger, promote feelings of fullness, and slow stomach emptying.
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