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Healthy Returns: Ozempic, Wegovy linked to rare cases of serious eye condition
CNBCยท 2025-06-11 18:00
Core Viewpoint - Novo Nordisk's weight loss and diabetes drugs, Wegovy and Ozempic, are linked to rare but serious eye conditions, prompting regulatory scrutiny and potential label updates [2][3][8]. Group 1: Regulatory Actions and Findings - The European Medicines Agency's safety committee confirmed a link between semaglutide (active ingredient in Wegovy and Ozempic) and non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), a serious eye condition [2][3]. - Novo Nordisk has been asked to include NAION as a "very rare" side effect in the product information for semaglutide-containing drugs [3]. - The committee noted that the risk of developing NAION is doubled for diabetes patients using semaglutide compared to those not taking it [5]. Group 2: Patient Impact and Risk Assessment - The incidence of NAION may affect up to 1 in 10,000 patients taking semaglutide for at least one year, indicating that it is likely not a significant concern for the majority of users [5]. - The eye condition is the second-most common cause of blindness due to optic nerve damage, primarily affecting individuals aged 50 and above [6]. Group 3: Additional Research and Concerns - A recent study indicated that diabetes patients using GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic are twice as likely to develop neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) compared to non-users [8][9]. - The study analyzed health records of nearly 140,000 adults with Type 2 diabetes, primarily focusing on the effects of semaglutide [10]. - Novo Nordisk maintains that the efficacy and safety of semaglutide have been well-established, despite these emerging concerns [10].