Novo Nordisk's Wegovy Tied To Increased Risk Of Rare Vision-Loss Disorder, European Regulators Say
Novo Nordisk A/S's (NYSE:NVO) semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, is the active substance in certain medicines used for diabetes and obesity (Ozempic, Rybelsus, and Wegovy).
After reviewing all available data on NAION with semaglutide, including data from non-clinical studies, clinical trials, post-marketing surveillance and the medical literature, the committee on Friday concluded that NAION is a very rare side effect of semaglutide (meaning it may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people taking semaglutide).Results from several large epidemiological studies suggest that exposure to semaglutide in adults with type 2 diabetes is associated with an approximately two-fold increase in the risk of developing NAION compared with people not taking the medicine.
This corresponds to approximately one additional case of NAION per 10,000 person-years of treatment; one person-year corresponds to one person taking semaglutide for one year.
Data from clinical trials also point to a slightly higher risk of developing the condition in people taking semaglutide compared with people taking a placebo (a dummy treatment).
Therefore, EMA has recommended that the product information for semaglutide medicines be updated to include NAION as a side effect with a frequency of 'very rare.'
In December, a study conducted in Denmark and Norway revealed a potential link between the use of semaglutide for type 2 diabetes and an increased risk of non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION).
Additionally, New research suggests that GLP-1 receptor agonists, widely prescribed for diabetes and weight loss, may significantly raise the risk of age-related macular degeneration in older diabetic patients.
A study published on Thursday in JAMA Ophthalmology by the University of Toronto researchers warns of a potential downside: increased risk of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) in diabetic users.
nAMD is a severe form of age-related macular degeneration characterized by the growth of abnormal blood vessels in the back of the eye.
Analyzing medical data from over 1 million Ontario residents with diabetes, researchers identified 46,334 patients prescribed GLP-1 RAs, most of whom were taking semaglutide—likely Ozempic, since Wegovy was only recently approved in Canada.
Patients on these medications were matched with participants not on GLP-1 RAs, sharing similar demographics and health profiles, and tracked for three years.
The study found that diabetic patients taking GLP-1 RAs for at least six months had double the risk of developing neovascular AMD compared to non-users.
Over a mean follow-up period of 2.4 years, 0.2% of the GLP-1 RA cohort progressed to nAMD compared with only 0.1% of control participants, resulting in an increased hazard for nAMD of 2.21 for the GLP-1 RA cohort.
The risk was also highest in those with the longest duration of exposure.
The Guardian report added that those on the medications for more than 30 months had over three times the risk. The risk was even greater in older patients and those with a prior stroke.
Recent findings from the 2025 American Clinical Society of Oncology annual conference suggested that patients using weight loss drugs, including Ozempic, were about 33% more likely to be diagnosed with kidney cancer compared to matched individuals not using the medication.
Price Action: NVO stock is up 2.45% at $74.43 at the last check Friday.
Read Next:Photo by Tobias Arhelger via Shutterstock
Up Next: Transform your trading with Benzinga Edge's one-of-a-kind market trade ideas and tools. Click now to access unique insights that can set you ahead in today's competitive market.
Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga?
NOVO NORDISK (NVO): Free Stock Analysis Report
This article Novo Nordisk's Wegovy Tied To Increased Risk Of Rare Vision-Loss Disorder, European Regulators Say originally appeared on Benzinga.com
© 2025 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
3 Dow Jones Dividend Stocks With Above-Average Yields You Can Buy Now and Hold for at Least a Decade
Key Points UnitedHealth Group's reduced profit forecast for 2025 is disappointing, but the health insurance business is in a good position to bounce back. Coca-Cola's dividend payout has risen for 63 consecutive years. Amgen sells over a dozen drugs that are growing sales at a double-digit annual percentage. 10 stocks we like better than UnitedHealth Group › Income-seeking investors who value their time know the best dividend stocks don't need a lot of babysitting. Some go on decades-long payout-raising streaks. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJINDICES: ^DJI) is one of the best places to find reliable dividend payers. Stocks aren't added to this exclusive list unless they have already demonstrated an ability to produce profits in good economic times and bad ones, too. The average dividend payer in the Dow Jones Industrial Average offers a measly 1.6% yield at recent prices. UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO), and Amgen (NASDAQ: AMGN) stand out with above-average yields. Here's why they could be great additions to a long-term dividend investor's portfolio. 1. UnitedHealth Group Shares of UnitedHealth Group collapsed in May, after the company simultaneously suspended its 2025 outlook and announced an abrupt CEO exit. To top it off, the company felt it was necessary to issue responses to several Wall Street Journal articles and a Department of Justice investigation regarding its Medicare business. The stock is down, but its dividend payout is way up. The company raised it by 76.8% over the past five years. At its beaten-down price, the stock offers a 2.7% yield. Health insurance businesses operate on thin margins. It turns out that UnitedHealth mispriced premiums going into 2025. Healthcare providers are charging more than the company anticipated, plus the amount of care new members have been using is also higher than expected. Smart investors such as Warren Buffett know that UnitedHealth Group is mostly a middleman that can pass increased costs on to health plan sponsors. It may have mispriced premiums going into 2025, but this isn't a mistake its recently refreshed management team is likely to make again in the decade ahead. 2. Coca-Cola Unlike UnitedHealth, Coca-Cola stock is up near its all-time high. The soda giant's dividend hasn't risen as sharply as the health insurer's, but it's still up by 24.4% over the past five years. Being the only company that can sell many of the world's most popular beverage brands is a strong advantage that leads to consistent profits. In February, the company announced a dividend raise for the 63rd year in a row. Shares of Coca-Cola offer a 2.9% yield at recent prices, and another decade of significant dividend raises isn't an unreasonable expectation. Second-quarter unit case volume fell by 1%, but the strength of its brands allowed organic revenue to rise by 5% year over year. Sales of sugary sodas have been losing ground to sports drinks, but the company has this base covered. Its BodyArmor brand boasts a double-digit share of the U.S. market, and its older Powerade brand is even more popular. Adding some shares of this stock to a diverse portfolio is an almost certain way to boost your passive income stream over time. 3. Amgen Shares of biotechnology pioneer Amgen have been trading about 12% below the all-time high they set last year. Amgen began paying a dividend in 2011 and has been able to increase it every year since. The drugmaker raised its payout by 48.8% over the past five years. At recent prices, it offers a 3.2% yield. Two of Amgen's top revenue streams, Enbrel and Prolia, are drying up thanks to biosimilar competition. Fortunately, the losses are easily offset by a slew of more recently launched products. Amgen recently reported year-over-year sales increases at a double-digit percentage for 15 products in the second quarter. New competition for Enbrel and Prolia limited second-quarter sales growth to 9% year over year. Enbrel and Prolia losses will most likely reach a bottom long before Amgen's new growth drivers run out of fuel. With a strong lineup of new products, this company could report strong sales growth in the decade ahead. Should you buy stock in UnitedHealth Group right now? Before you buy stock in UnitedHealth Group, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and UnitedHealth Group wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $671,466!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $1,115,633!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 1,077% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 185% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of August 18, 2025 Cory Renauer has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amgen. The Motley Fool recommends UnitedHealth Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. 3 Dow Jones Dividend Stocks With Above-Average Yields You Can Buy Now and Hold for at Least a Decade was originally published by The Motley Fool Sign in to access your portfolio
NBC News
an hour ago
- NBC News
Tennis great Serena Williams talks about use of weight loss drug
Speaking on NBC'S Today show, tennis superstar Serena Williams talks about her challenges with weight loss after having two children and her decision to use a GLP-1. NBC News' Anne Thompson reports.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
ReAlta Life Sciences Secures European Orphan Drug Status for Graft-vs-Host Disease Treatment
By Karen Roman ReAlta Life Sciences, Inc. said it was granted Orphan Drug Designation by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for RLS-0071 (pegtarazimod), to treat Graft-versus-Host Disease (GvHD). The designation was supported by preliminary data from the company's Phase 2 trial and follows FDA Orphan Drug and Fast Track designations received in 2024, it stated. 'Receiving EMA Orphan Drug Designation represents a significant new regulatory milestone in our efforts to address the urgent unmet need in aGvHD, and we are particularly encouraged by the EMA's positive feedback to our initial cohort of Phase 2 data,' said David Marek, ReAlta's CEO. READ MORE Final Agenda: LA CorpGov Forum Sept 4 Featuring Sports and Entertainment Never Miss our Weekly Highlights Contact: Exec Edge Editor@ Click to follow us on LinkedIn
