Maryland man sues Novo Nordisk, says Ozempic caused total vision loss

Right · 2Todd Engel, a Maryland man described as 63, says the diabetes drug Ozempic caused his total vision loss, leaving him legally blind, and he has filed a lawsuit against its maker, Novo Nordisk. 1 2 Right · 2Engel was first prescribed Ozempic in 2023 to manage his diabetes; the drug is approved for type 2 diabetes and is also commonly prescribed off-label for weight loss. 2 1 Right · 2About four months after starting the drug he was diagnosed with NAION (nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy), a condition in which reduced blood flow damages the optic nerve and which can cause sudden, permanent vision loss. 1 2

Right · 2He says he first lost sight in his right eye on New Year's Eve 2024; he was referred for testing, including at Johns Hopkins' Wilmer Eye Institute, where he was told he had suffered an "eye stroke", and his blood work and blood pressure were normal. 2 1 Right · 1According to the family's account, neither Engel nor his doctors knew of a possible link between semaglutide and NAION, so he kept taking Ozempic; about 10 months later he lost vision in his left eye and stopped the drug immediately. Doctors told him nothing could restore his sight, and his wife, Shelley Engel, said testing found no other common factor besides Ozempic. 2 Right · 2The lawsuit alleges Novo Nordisk failed to adequately warn patients and doctors about the potential risk of vision loss. Engel is among hundreds of patients pursuing legal action against makers of GLP-1 drugs, including Ozempic and Wegovy, over NAION claims, though a causal relationship has not been definitively established. 2 1

Right · 1Engel's attorney, Jonathan Orent, said the team is seeking a warning on the US Ozempic label similar to information given to patients and doctors in Europe, adding: "It's about information." The New York Post says Orent is co-lead counsel in nationwide GLP-1 litigation. 2 Right · 1Engel, a heavy equipment operator and truck driver for Howard County Highways for about 40 years, says he lost his career, can no longer read, uses a white cane and relies on family. He says that had he been warned, he would have refused the drug, and he and his wife are speaking out to warn others. 1 Right · 2Novo Nordisk disputes that Ozempic causes NAION. Liz Skrbkova, head of US Media and Stakeholder Relations, said a causal relationship "cannot be confirmed based on the totality of data"; the company cites an analysis of its randomized, placebo-controlled trials showing very few confirmed NAION cases and no increased incidence with semaglutide, says it keeps monitoring NAION, and calls the US personal injury suits without merit. 1 2