Ongoing lawsuits allege GLP-1s can cause serious harm. But we don't know how often

Lawsuits in the U.S. allege GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic can cause serious harm, but the frequency of those outcomes is still unclear. The case described centers on Todd Engel, who began taking Ozempic (semaglutide) in early 2023 for diabetes. In winter 2023, he developed sudden vision loss diagnosed as NAION, linked to tiny strokes affecting blood flow to the eye. A similar event occurred seven months later in his other eye. Engel’s lawsuit says Novo Nordisk failed to warn patients and doctors. He joins consolidated legal actions alleging life-threatening or life-altering harms. A JAMA Ophthalmology study found higher NAION rates among diabetic patients taking Ozempic, though medical groups like the American Academy of Ophthalmology cautioned it doesn’t prove causation. For now, the FDA’s adverse-event database remains a key reporting channel.