Victoza (Liraglutide) Lawsuit

You might be eligible to file a Victoza (liraglutide) vision-loss lawsuit against the drug’s manufacturer, NovoNordisk, if you took brand-name Victoza for Type 2 diabetes and developed non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). 

Most law firms have a list of criteria you must meet before they will accept your case.

This criteria checklist is just a guide. If you’re unsure whether you qualify, talk to an attorney. They will be able to tell you if they can help after reviewing the details of your Victoza experience.

NAION is a severe medical condition that causes sudden vision loss due to reduced blood flow to the optic nerve. NAION matters to Victoza users because studies have found that Victoza and other GLP-1 drugs may increase the risk of NAION.

The condition can happen suddenly. In many cases, people wake up in the morning with significant vision loss. 

NAION primarily affects older adults, patients with diabetes and those with underlying cardiovascular risk factors.

Symptoms & Diagnosis

Symptoms from NAION are usually sudden and painless. However, sometimes vision loss can also occur gradually over a couple of weeks. 

The most common forms of NAION cause blurred or weakened vision. Others can cause total vision loss. 

Doctors diagnose NAION based on your symptoms and medical history. Testing isn’t usually required.

Usually, people with NAION get it in one eye first. However, it can develop in the other eye in about 15% of people with the condition. 

Is NAION Permanent?

NAION is permanent in most cases, but it can be reversible in some people. 

There is no cure for NAION. Doctors usually treat it by managing symptoms and treating underlying causes like Type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure.

Researchers don’t know exactly how GLP-1 drugs like Victoza affect vision, but there are two theories. The first is that the drugs may rapidly lower blood sugar, potentially triggering NAION in some people with diabetes. 

The second is that because optic nerves have GLP-1 receptors, GLP-1 drugs may affect eye function by acting on these receptors and interfering with blood flow and nerve function.

Studies have linked GLP-1 drugs like Victoza, Ozempic, Saxenda and Wegovy to vision loss. 

Researchers in a 2024 study published in Epic Research found patients taking a GLP-1 called liraglutide (Victoza and Saxenda) had a 179% greater likelihood of being diagnosed with NAION compared to people who took other diabetes medications. 

A 2024 study in JAMA Ophthalmology found a 6.7% incidence of NAION in people with obesity or who were overweight and took a GLP-1 called semaglutide (Ozempic and Wegovy) compared to 0.8% for people who didn’t. For people with Type-2 diabetes, it was 8.9% versus 1.8%.

Authors of a 2025 research letter published in JAMA Ophthalmology revealed data that showed that semaglutide increased the risk of NAION by 39%, while liraglutide increased the risk of NAION by 25%.

The newest lawsuits involving Victoza are the NAION cases. These are in the early stages with no settlements or trials yet. 

Plaintiff’s lawyers are trying to get a group of NAION vision loss cases consolidated into multicounty litigation (MCL) in New Jersey. They filed a motion to form the MCL in June 2025. An MCL includes multiple cases with the same defendants, injuries and facts.

The MCL request was for Ozempic and Wegovy, but Victoza cases and vision loss lawsuits for Saxenda, another liraglutide drug, may also be included in the MCL. 

Gastroparesis and Intestinal Blockage Lawsuits

Victoza is also involved in lawsuits that say Novo Nordisk didn’t warn the public about the risks of gastroparesis (paralyzed stomach) and intestinal blockages. 

Mounjaro lawsuits, Ozempic lawsuits and Wegovy lawsuits are also included in these gastrointestinal claims. These lawsuits have been consolidated in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. 

Dismissed Pancreatic-Cancer MDL

The first wave of Victoza lawsuits focused on claims of pancreatic cancer and pancreatitis, resulting in an MDL (multidistrict litigation) in California. These cases were dismissed in March 2021 because a judge ruled there wasn’t enough evidence to link Victoza to pancreatic cancer. 

Plaintiffs filed an appeal. In 2022, the appeals court sided with Novo Nordisk, and the cases were not revived.

Victoza has not been recalled and remains available. It has been offered as a generic, distributed by Teva, since June 2024. 

As of August 2025, there is no warning for vision loss or NAION in Victoza’s prescribing information. The drug does have a black box warning for thyroid C-cell tumors.

After a serious side effect, you should speak to your doctor immediately or seek emergency care. If you are thinking about filing a lawsuit, you need to preserve evidence for your Victoza vision loss legal claim. 

Immediate Medical Steps

Contact your doctor or an ophthalmologist immediately if you experience sudden vision changes. Do not discontinue Victoza without professional guidance to avoid destabilizing your diabetes management.

Preserving Evidence for a Claim

Retain all medication packaging, pharmacy records and doctor’s notes. Document the onset and progression of your symptoms, including dates, for future legal review.

Some lawyers estimate that potential settlements for eye injuries, such as partial vision loss, could be between $300,000 and $750,000. Compensation for total blindness could be $500,000 to over $1 million. 

So far, there haven’t been any settlements or jury verdicts for any Victoza vision loss lawsuits. The exact amount plaintiffs can expect to receive isn’t known and no exact amount is guaranteed.

The first step in filing a Victoza lawsuit is to get a case evaluation. You can sign up for a free case review on Drugwatch. There’s no pressure to hire an attorney or file a lawsuit. 

You don’t pay anything for a consultation with our vetted legal partners to learn about your options.

Each lawsuit is different. Make sure to ask your lawyer what to expect in your case.

In addition to the potential increased risk for NAION or gastrointestinal problems, Victoza has other common and severe side effects. 

These side effects are listed on the drug’s warning label.