Ozempic Linked to Increased Risk of Vision Loss in New Study

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Ozempic Linked to Increased Risk of Vision Loss in New Study

A recent study identified an increased risk of a rare type of vision loss called non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) among patients using Novo Nordisk A/S's diabetes medication Ozempic. The research, which confirmed findings from Harvard University earlier this year, indicated that Ozempic users are more than twice as likely to receive a NAION diagnosis compared to those using a different diabetes medication.

The study, which has not yet undergone peer review, was published on December 11 in medRxiv and involved an analysis of patient records from Denmark and Norway. However, due to insufficient data, researchers could not determine whether Ozempic's sister drug Wegovy, used for obesity treatment, has a similar effect.

NAION occurs due to decreased blood flow to the optic nerve and is most commonly seen in individuals over the age of 50. While diabetes, heart disease, and sleep apnea may increase the risk of developing NAION, the condition is quite rare. In the study, only 1.4 additional NAION cases per 10,000 patient observation years were detected among those using Ozempic.

Despite the low incidence rate, NAION is a serious condition that can lead to irreversible and untreatable vision loss. Authors from the University of Southern Denmark, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, and University of Copenhagen emphasized the importance of balancing the potential risk of NAION against the significant benefits of both Ozempic and its active ingredient, semaglutide.

Novo Nordisk has reviewed the study alongside its internal safety assessments and stated that the risk-benefit profile of its products remains positive. The company reported very few NAION cases in its trials and indicated no significant difference concerning its medications.

Following the publication of the study, Novo Nordisk's shares dropped by as much as 3.7% on Friday, marking the most significant decline in approximately a month.

The research team compared the incidence of NAION between new semaglutide users and those using older SGLT-2 inhibitors. They tracked more than 44,000 Ozempic patients in Denmark from early 2018 to June 2024, and over 16,000 in Norway up to May 2022, resulting in a total of 32 NAION cases identified within this patient group. The study yielded inconclusive results due to a lack of patient data for Wegovy, which was launched in Denmark in 2022 and in Norway at the beginning of 2023.