Technology and Science · updated 3h ago · 2 min read
Dozens of Americans Sue Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly Over NAION Vision Loss
Hundreds of lawsuits allege GLP-1 drugs caused NAION vision loss against Novo Nordisk and Lilly. Plaintiffs say manufacturers failed to warn about NAION risk.
13 outlets told this the same way.
6 of 8 outlets skipped it: US FDA does not require NAION to be listed as a specific risk..
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NAION Lawsuits Grow
Dozens of Americans have filed personal injury lawsuits against Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, alleging they were not properly warned about the risk of a rare type of sudden vision loss called nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, or NAION. Diane Wirth said she experienced NAION after taking a GLP-1 medication for weight loss, and she described waking up with “There was no warning sign at all.”
Novo Nordisk said it is “vigorously” fighting the lawsuits and believes the claims are “without merit,” while Eli Lilly said patient safety is its top priority and that it will continue to review available data. The American Academy of Ophthalmology said a study did not find evidence of a consistent overall increase in NAION risk in the available data and said additional research is needed, while European regulators reached a different conclusion by adding NAION to European product information for Ozempic and Wegovy.
Science Still Mixed
Dr. John Chen, a professor of ophthalmology and neurology at Mayo Clinic, said NAION is “the most common acute optic neuropathy in patients over the age of 50” and described it as “essentially a lack of blood flow to the optic nerve.”
Dr. Raj Maturi, clinical spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology and ophthalmologist at Midwest Eye Institute, said “causation has not been proven” and that the risk “does seem to be rare.”
The European Medicines Agency determined NAION is a “very rare” side effect associated with semaglutide, and the condition was added to European product information for Ozempic and Wegovy.
The FDA said it “routinely monitors the safety of drug products postmarketing,” and the Sentinel Initiative aims to scientifically evaluate the possible safety signal related to GLP-1 drugs and NAION that is still in progress.
What Comes Next
The lawsuits have been consolidated in a federal multidistrict litigation in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and NDTV said the litigation is being heard under MDL No. 3163.
NDTV reported that the US Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation said 21 related actions were pending across three federal districts when the request for centralisation was considered in 2025, and the panel transferred 18 cases for coordinated proceedings.
In one case filed in May 2026, Omar McCluney sued Eli Lilly and Lilly USA, alleging that he developed NAION and permanent vision loss after taking Mounjaro between around January and March 2025.
The Eastern District of Pennsylvania said it held a Science Day in June 2026 to address scientific issues relating to GLP-1 drugs and NAION, and it ordered early discovery concerning issues common to the lawsuits.