TGA warns popular weight-loss drugs Ozempic, Wegovy linked to rare blindness risk

Australia’s medicines regulator has issued a safety warning over popular weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and Saxenda, saying they could cause a rare vision disorder.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) warned that the GLP-1 RA class of medicines have the potential to cause non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (NAION), a rare but severe form of eye disorder that may result in permanent visual impairment, including blindness. There is currently no treatment for NAION.

The regulator revealed that a potential link between GLP-1 RAs and NAION was first discovered in July 2024 following a study published in JAMA Ophthalmology. The TGA conducted an independent assessment but found conflicting evidence. After seeking expert advice from the Advisory Committee on Medicines (ACM), which concluded that current evidence supports a signal for semaglutide, the TGA decided to update product information and publish safety communications.

The TGA urges any patients who experience sudden vision loss, even if only partial, to seek urgent medical attention. The affected medicines include Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, Saxenda, and Trulicity.

Article and image source: thewest.com.au