Key Court Decision Approaches for Growing Ozempic Vision Loss Lawsuits
A key decision that could shape the path forward for the growing number of Ozempic vision loss lawsuits is approaching.
The New Jersey Supreme Court will soon decide whether these cases, which claim the popular diabetes drug and its weight loss counterpart are tied to severe vision loss, will be grouped together in multicounty litigation (MCL).
People who have filed lawsuits claim that they developed Non-Arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy (NAION) after taking the drug. This condition, which is sometimes known as an eye stroke, can cause rapid and permanent vision loss.
The creation of an MCL would be a big step forward for the lawsuits, consolidating them in one county to streamline the legal process and help avoid inconsistent rulings. The petition to create an MCL was first filed in June, and one of the final hurdles is a comment period where interested parties can weigh in on or object to the petition.
That period will end next week, clearing the way for the New Jersey Supreme Court to potentially issue a ruling on the petition not long after.
“At the time we filed our petition, there were 21 cases in suit,” Danielle Gold, an attorney with Weitz & Luxenberg working on this litigation, told Drugwatch. “Now, there are over 30 cases pending in New Jersey state court alleging an NAION injury, and we anticipate that number will keep growing.”
Growing Research Suggests Ozempic Use May Be Tied to Vision Loss
Lawsuits have expanded over the last year after multiple studies suggested that a link could exist between drugs like Ozempic and permanent vision loss.
A 2024 study published in JAMA Ophthalmology found that people with Type 2 diabetes who had taken semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic, were at a notably higher risk of developing NAION.
Those findings were built on just last month, when a new study evaluating millions of Medicare enrollees with diabetes uncovered similar results.
NAION occurs when there is a loss of blood flow to the optic nerve, which can quickly cause permanent and painless vision loss. There is no treatment for this condition.
Permanent vision loss can severely degrade the quality of life for those impacted, making regular activities like driving difficult or even impossible.
“You really lose your sense of independence and need to rely on others to help you with daily tasks,” Gold said. “Sadly, so many of our clients can no longer make out peoples’ faces, whether that be family members, friends, grandchildren, and it really is devastating.”
