The Legal Basis for the Wegovy & Ozempic NAION Lawsuits
Novo Nordisk (Novo) is currently embroiled in a highly publicized and significant legal battle regarding the adequacy of its warning labels for its medications, Ozempic and Wegovy.
Over 1,500 product liability lawsuits against Novo Nordisk allege that the company failed to sufficiently warn of the potentially dangerous risks associated with Ozempic and Wegovy—specifically, vision loss or blindness from Non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION).
This litigation is likely to gain momentum over time. It could become one of the costliest litigations in the history of product liability and pharmaceutical litigation.
About Ozempic and Wegovy
Ozempic and Wegovy are incretin mimetic medications that contain the active ingredient semaglutide. Incretin mimetics stimulate the pancreas to increase the production of insulin by imitating the incretin hormone that is naturally produced in the human body, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1).
Thus, they are part of a class of drugs called GLP-1. The increase in insulin lowers glucose levels in patients with type 2 diabetes, effectively controlling their metabolic condition.
The use of incretin mimetics has also been found to suppress appetite by increasing feelings of satiety, resulting in weight loss among its users.
Ozempic and Wegovy are once-weekly injectable medications approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in December 2017 to lower blood glucose levels in adults with type 2 diabetes and to aid in weight loss, respectively.
A licensed medical clinician must prescribe them to ensure that the patient receives the correct therapeutic dose.
After receiving the proper dose, the medication can be self-administered. Along with a balanced diet and regular exercise, Ozempic and Wegovy are intended for long-term use.
Novo Failed to Warn Patients of Risk of Vision Loss and Blindness
A “failure to warn” product liability lawsuit is based on the premise that a manufacturer or other company in the chain of distribution knew that its product could be harmful to consumers and failed to provide timely or adequate warnings to the public of these potential risks, causing harm to consumers.
In a failure to warn lawsuit based on strict liability, Plaintiffs must allege the following:
- The manufacturer knew of the danger posed by the product
- The manufacturer had a duty to warn its consumers of this product-related danger
- The manufacturer failed to warn
- The manufacturer’s failure to warn caused the plaintiff’s injury
What is NAION?
Non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) is a rare condition of the eye that can cause irreversible vision loss or complete blindness due to injury to the optic nerve.
NAION is a medical condition where there is a sudden loss of blood flow to the optic nerve, which connects your eyes to your brain. This lack of blood flow can damage the optic nerve, resulting in sudden vision loss, typically in one eye.
NAION is not caused by inflammation or blocked arteries (that’s what “non-arteritic” means), but rather by poor circulation or other risk factors like high blood pressure, diabetes, or sleep apnea.
The vision loss from NAION often happens quickly and can be permanent. There is currently no proven treatment to restore vision once it has been lost due to this condition. That is why it is so vital for people to be aware of any possible risks, especially when taking medications that may increase the chance of developing NAION.
What are NAION Symptoms?
The main symptoms of NAION (Non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy) usually include:
– Sudden, painless vision loss in one eye—often noticed upon waking up
– Blurry or dim vision, sometimes described as a shadow or dark area in the upper or lower part of the visual field
– Colors may appear less bright or washed out
– Some people notice trouble seeing out of the corner of their eye or a loss of side vision
NAION does not usually cause pain or redness in the eye. If you notice any sudden changes in your vision, it’s important to contact an eye doctor right away.
Failure to Warn Patients of NAION Risk.
Novo knew or should have known of the elevated risk of this condition for consumers of its product based on emerging scientific evidence indicating the connection.
Manufacturers have a corporate responsibility and legal duty to provide clear and comprehensive warnings about the risks associated with their products. Then, consumers can make an informed decision with their healthcare provider about whether a medication is best suited for their needs.
Novo failed to fulfill its duty to warn of this risk factor in a timely manner. Based on the failure to warn, the blindness lawsuits allege that the lack of adequate warnings created a lack of informed consent and ultimately caused harm to consumers.
Call The Yost Legal Group to file your Ozempic & Wegovy Blindness Lawsuit.
The Yost Legal Group product liability attorneys are filing Ozempic lawsuits and Wegovy lawsuits. We are pursuing cases of individuals who developed non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) after using either Ozempic or Wegovy.
Have you been diagnosed with NAION vision loss? Have you experienced partial or total blindness after using Ozempic or Wegovy? (whose active ingredient is also semaglutide), You may be entitled to compensation.
Call experienced attorneys for defective products today at 1 (800) YOST-LAW (1-800-967-8529). You can also fill out the Free Consultation form on our website.
We will contact you shortly to conduct a free case review. And discuss whether you qualify to file an Ozempic Lawsuit or a Wegovy Lawsuit.
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