Korea warns of rare vision-loss risk linked to GLP-1 drugs

The Korea Times reports that the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has issued a safety alert to medical professionals and patients regarding a potential risk of a rare eye condition linked to GLP-1 obesity drugs, such as Wegovy and Mounjaro. This alert comes in response to safety measures implemented by overseas regulators concerning nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), a condition characterized by reduced blood flow to the optic nerve that can result in sudden and potentially permanent vision loss.

The European Medicines Agency classified NAION as a very rare side effect of semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy, estimating that it may affect up to one in 10,000 users. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has requested drugmakers to include a possible increased risk of NAION in the warnings and precautions on GLP-1 drug labels.

The alert advises medical professionals to stop treatment and immediately examine patients if NAION is suspected in those taking GLP-1 drugs, which help with weight loss by mimicking a hormone that regulates appetite and blood sugar.

Brief written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.