New York, NY – February 24, 2026 – Sullivan Papain Block McManus Coffinas & Cannavo P.C. announced that member Craig Silverman has been appointed by the Honorable Karen Spencer Marston to the Plaintiffs’ Executive Committee in the In Re: Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists (GLP-1 RAs) Non-Arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy Products Liability Litigation (MDL No. 3163).
The multidistrict litigation, pending in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, consolidates claims alleging that GLP-1 receptor agonist medications, including Ozempic and Wegovy, are associated with Non-Arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy (NAION), a serious condition that can cause sudden and permanent vision loss.
What is NAION?
Non-Arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy (NAION) is the most common cause of optic nerve swelling and optic neuropathy in adults over age 50. It occurs when blood flow to the front portion of the optic nerve is reduced, leading to ischemia (lack of oxygen) and damage to the nerve fibers.
Typical symptoms include sudden, painless vision loss in one eye, often noticed upon waking. The loss may affect the lower half of the visual field, cause blurred vision, or reduce color perception. Optic disc swelling is usually present initially but resolves within weeks to months, often leaving optic atrophy and permanent vision impairment. There is no proven treatment to restore lost vision, and the condition can affect the second eye in approximately 15% of cases within five years. Risk factors include a small optic disc (“disc at risk”), diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, high cholesterol, and smoking.
The Products and Alleged Issues
The litigation involves glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), a class of medications primarily prescribed for type 2 diabetes and chronic weight management. Key drugs include:
- Semaglutide (Ozempic for diabetes, Wegovy for weight loss, Rybelsus oral form)
- Tirzepatide (Mounjaro and Zepbound)
- Other agents such as dulaglutide (Trulicity) and liraglutide (Saxenda, Victoza)
Plaintiffs allege that these medications increase the risk of NAION, citing studies (including research published in JAMA Ophthalmology) showing a significantly elevated risk — up to four times higher in patients with diabetes and eight times higher in patients with obesity compared to those not taking the drugs. The lawsuits claim that manufacturers failed to adequately warn about this risk on labeling and marketing materials.
How Multidistrict Litigation Works in Cases Like This
When large numbers of similar claims arise nationwide, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation may consolidate them into a single multidistrict litigation (MDL) for coordinated pretrial proceedings. This avoids duplicative discovery, inconsistent rulings, and inefficient use of judicial resources. Cases remain separate for trial purposes but share common discovery and motion practice under one judge — in this instance, Judge Karen Spencer Marston.
The Plaintiffs’ Executive Committee coordinates the litigation on behalf of all plaintiffs. Committee members manage discovery, prepare bellwether cases (test cases for trial), negotiate with defendants, and handle strategic decisions. This structure allows experienced counsel to efficiently advance the claims while preserving individual plaintiff rights.
Silverman, who joined Sullivan Papain in 2019, has extensive experience in pharmaceutical mass torts and complex multidistrict litigation. His appointment places him in a leadership position to help coordinate proceedings on behalf of individuals alleging vision loss from these medications.
Sullivan Papain Block McManus Coffinas & Cannavo P.C. has a 100-year history of representing serious injury victims, including those harmed by defective drugs and medical devices.
About Sullivan Papain Block McManus Coffinas & Cannavo P.C.
Sullivan Papain Block McManus Coffinas & Cannavo P.C. is a New York-based plaintiffs’ personal injury and complex litigation firm. The firm has served as General Counsel to the FDNY and Uniformed Firefighters Association for more than four decades.