Wegovy boxes made by Novo Nordisk appear in a pharmacy in London, Britain, March 8, 2024.
Holly Adams | Reuters
European Union drug regulators have found no evidence that hugely popular weight loss and diabetes drugs such as Wegovy and Ozempic are associated with an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and self-harm, the regulator said on Friday.
The European Medicines Agency has conducted a nine-month investigation into so-called GLP-1s, a popular class of treatments that mimic a hormone produced in the intestines to suppress a person's appetite. The demand for these drugs has increased significantly over the past year despite their high prices and spotty insurance coverage.
The review examined several drugs from Novo Nordisk, including Wegovy and Ozempic. Not included Eli LillyZepbound and Mounjaro, two versions of the same drug sold for weight loss and diabetes. But the investigation included the active ingredient in an older diabetes treatment from Eli Lilly called Trulicity
In a statement to CNBC, Novo Nordisk confirmed the findings of the EMA's investigation and said it would continue to monitor reports of adverse reactions to GLP-1s, including suicide and suicidal ideation.
The agency's ruling is the latest in a series of reassuring reports about the suicide risk for GLP-1s. The US Food and Drug Administration reached a similar conclusion in January, but said agency officials could not definitively rule out a “moderate risk.”
Clinical trials conducted by Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly did not prove a link between GLP-1 and suicidal thoughts. However, researchers and doctors have been looking for any new unwanted side effects or additional risks as thousands of new patients start taking the drugs.
The European Medicines Agency first launched its investigation in July after the Icelandic Medicines Agency reported three cases of suicidal thoughts and self-harm in patients taking medicines containing liraglutide and semaglutide, the active ingredients in the popular remedies.
Semaglutide is the active ingredient used in the Rybelsus diabetes pill from Wegovy, Ozempic and Novo Nordisk. Liraglutide is the active ingredient in Novo Nordisk's older weight-loss drug Saxenda. The investigation also included other active ingredients in older weight loss and diabetes drugs, including dulaglutide, exenatide and lixenatide.
The European Medicines Agency said on Friday that it had analyzed the results of a large US study and found no direct relationship between the use of semaglutide and suicidal thoughts. The results of another study conducted by the agency did not support a link between GLP-1 medications and the risk of suicidal thoughts.
Both studies were based on electronic health records.
If you are having suicidal thoughts or are in distress, call the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline on 988 in the US or Samaritans in the UK on 116 123 for support and help from a trained counsellor.
