A new study has found that diabetes patients using Ozempic have more than twice the risk of developing a rare form of vision loss compared to those taking other diabetes medications.
The research, which examined patient records from Denmark and Norway, links the blockbuster drug to an increased risk of NAION, a disease affecting the optic nerve.
The findings, published Dec. 11 on medRxiv, support previous research from Harvard University published this year.
The study analyzed the records of more than 44,000 Ozempic patients in Denmark and more than 16,000 in Norway, tracking new users from 2018.
The drug is usually prescribed to people with diabetesGetty Images
Researchers identified 32 cases of NAION in the entire group.
The overall occurrence rate was very low, with only 1.4 additional cases per 10,000 patients compared to those taking other diabetes medications.
The research team compared users of semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic, with patients taking older drugs in the SGLT-2 class.
Data collection continued until June 2024 in Denmark and until May 2022 in Norway.
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The study analyzed the records of more than 44,000 Ozempic patients in Denmark and more than 16,000 in Norway.
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NAION occurs when a loss of blood flow damages the optic nerve and is more common in people over 50 years old.
The disease is irreversible, incurable and potentially blinding, with doctors stressing that patients should be informed of the potential risks.
Diabetes, heart disease, and sleep apnea can increase the risk of developing NOIANA.
According to the research team’s calculations, a type 2 diabetic patient taking Ozempic for 20 years would have between a 0.3 percent and 0.5 percent chance of developing the disease.
Researchers emphasized the importance of weighing the risks of NAION against the therapeutic benefits of semaglutide.
Novo Nordisk said that after evaluating the study and conducting its internal safety assessment, they believe the risk-benefit profile of the drug remains unchanged.
The company noted that very few cases of NAION were observed in its own trials, with no disadvantageous imbalances to its drugs.
Many people take Ozempic to help lose weight.
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The news had a significant impact on Novo Nordisk’s stock performance, with shares falling 3.7 percent in Copenhagen on Friday afternoon.
It was the biggest drop in the company’s stock price in about a month.
The findings follow a smaller study published in July by Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts Eye and Ear, which first suggested a link between Ozempic and NAION.
The Nordic study found a lower additional risk than the Harvard study.
The researchers noted that the Harvard trial focused on patients who had been referred for neuro-ophthalmologic evaluation, suggesting they may be in poorer health overall.
Study results regarding Wegovy were inconclusive, as the drug did not become available in Denmark until 2022 and in Norway in early 2023, leading to insufficient patient data.