Wegovy and Ozempic Linked to Serious Eye Disorder, Study Finds

Potential Risk for Eye Condition in Popular Weight-Loss and Diabetes Drugs

A recent study suggests that patients using Novo Nordisk’s popular weight-loss drug Wegovy, as well as similar medications for type 2 diabetes like Ozempic and Rybelsus, may face an increased risk of a serious eye condition.

What the Study Found

Wegovy and Novo’s diabetes drugs contain semaglutide, which is part of a class of medications known as GLP-1 receptor agonists. The study, published in JAMA Ophthalmology, found that the rate of a sight-threatening eye condition called nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) was significantly higher in patients taking semaglutide. For those with type 2 diabetes, the rate was 8.9% compared to 1.8% in those taking other diabetes medications. For weight loss patients, the rate was 6.7% versus 0.8% for those on other weight reduction medications.

Details of the Study

• The study observed 710 adults with type 2 diabetes and 979 individuals taking medications for weight loss over 36 months.
• NAION results from reduced blood flow to the optic nerve, causing sudden painless vision loss in one eye. It is the second leading cause of optic nerve damage-related blindness, after glaucoma.

Increased Risk with Semaglutide

After accounting for other risk factors like high blood pressure and sleep apnea, the use of semaglutide was associated with a fourfold increase in NAION risk for diabetes patients and a sevenfold increase for those using it for obesity.

Novo Nordisk’s Response

Novo Nordisk acknowledged the study but pointed out its limitations, noting that it was not a randomized controlled trial. The company stated that the study data was not enough to prove a direct link between GLP-1 receptor agonists and NAION. They also mentioned that NAION is not listed as a side effect of semaglutide in its marketed forms.

Who is Affected

NAION typically affects older adults, with an estimated annual incidence of 0.54 per 100,000 people in the general U.S. population, rising to 2.3 to 10.2 per 100,000 among those over 50. The average ages in the study were 46 for obesity patients and 57 for diabetes patients.

Expert Opinions

Graham McGeown from Queen’s University Belfast, who was not involved in the study, praised the research quality but emphasized the need for larger studies to confirm the findings. He noted that while the rapid increase in semaglutide use warrants further investigation, potential side effects should always be weighed against the benefits.

Conclusion

This study raises important questions about the safety of popular weight-loss and diabetes drugs containing semaglutide. While more research is needed, patients and healthcare providers should be aware of the potential risks associated with these medications.

References

• Reuters
• JAMA Ophthalmology
• American Academy of Ophthalmology