GLP-1 drugs carry potential risk of rare eye condition NAION: FDA

Elaine’s stories explore the boom in new obesity treatments, new drug payment models, the ways companies are affected by FDA changes, and the emerging psychedelics drug sector. She co-writes The Readout newsletter, and co-hosts STAT’s weekly biotech podcast, The Readout Loud. You can reach Elaine on Signal at elaineywchen.70.

The Food and Drug Administration on Monday warned that GLP-1 drugs carry a potential risk for a rare but serious eye condition and required pharma companies to inform patients and doctors of the risk.

The condition, called non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, or NAION, is sometimes referred to as an “eye stroke” and is caused by insufficient blood flow to the optic nerve. It typically causes sudden vision loss and, in severe cases, can lead to blindness. There are currently no proven treatments for the condition.

GLP-1 drugs such as Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic and Wegovy and Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro and Zepbound have exploded in popularity for their potent weight loss effects, but as with any drugs that are given to large populations, side effects can show up in real-world use that weren’t observed in clinical trials.

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