A North Carolina woman has filed a lawsuit in New Jersey federal court, claiming that her use of the diabetes medication Ozempic led to permanent vision loss. Elizabeth Pennell alleges that Novo Nordisk A/S, the drug’s manufacturer, should have been aware of the potential risk of blindness associated with the medication.
Pennell, who was using Ozempic to manage Type 2 diabetes and for weight loss, claims to have developed nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) as a result of taking the drug. NAION is an irreversible condition that leads to sudden, permanent blindness in one or both eyes.
According to Pennell, she woke up one day to discover she had lost vision in one eye, and medical professionals later confirmed the diagnosis of NAION. She further states that approximately 15% of patients with NAION may also experience vision loss in the other eye, compounding the devastating effects of the condition.
“Vision loss can lead to worsened mental health, loss of employment, social isolation, and the need for long-term care,” Pennell stated. “I believe Novo Nordisk knew or should have known about the risk of NAION through clinical trials, post-market surveillance, and adverse event reports but failed to adequately warn me and my doctors.”
The lawsuit contends that Ozempic’s manufacturer did not provide necessary warnings about the risks of vision loss, despite a substantial body of evidence linking the drug to the condition. Pennell’s legal team, led by Parvin Aminolroaya of Seeger Weiss LLP, intends to hold Novo Nordisk accountable for failing to disclose the risks associated with Ozempic.
The complaint also criticizes Novo Nordisk’s aggressive marketing campaigns, which Pennell claims have portrayed the drug as a “miracle” treatment for weight loss, often emphasizing its benefits without addressing the potential dangers. According to Pennell, this marketing campaign ingrained Ozempic in popular culture, despite the serious risks it poses to certain users.
“Ozempic is part of a class of drugs known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, which have been marketed to patients who hoped for guaranteed results,” Pennell’s statement reads. “In reality, this drug had the opposite effect on my health.”
The legal complaint asserts several claims, including failure to warn, fraudulent concealment, and breach of warranty. Pennell argues that the drug’s dangerous characteristics were not apparent to an average user and were not adequately disclosed to the public.
In response, a spokesperson for Novo Nordisk stated that NAION is an exceedingly rare condition and is not considered an adverse reaction to Ozempic. The company’s spokesperson added that internal safety assessments and clinical trials have not shown a causal link between Ozempic and NAION.
Pennell is represented by Parvin K. Aminolroaya and Christopher A. Seeger of Seeger Weiss LLP. The case, Pennell vs. Novo Nordisk A/S et al., is filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, case number 3:25-cv-02756.
