No casual link found between GLP-1 drugs like Novo Nordisk Ozempic, thyroid cancer: EMA
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has said its safety panel did not find a causal link between popular GLP-1 drugs such as Novo Nordisk's Ozempic and thyroid cancer after a months-long review.
The panel committee reviewed non-clinical, clinical and post-marketing data of the drugs, and said that no updates to their prescribing information was required at the time.
The agency has since April been monitoring the use of GLP-1 receptor agonists, a class of diabetes and weight loss drugs that includes Ozempic and Wegovy, for any signs that they increase the risk of thyroid cancer.
The safety panel reviewed data from Novo's popular diabetes drug Ozempic and weight loss treatment Wegovy, which contain the same active ingredient, semaglutide.
It also reviewed data from the Danish drugmaker's other diabetes drug Victoza and obesity drug Saxenda, which contain liraglutide.
Novo's U.S. rival Eli Lilly's diabetes drug Trulicity, or dulaglutide, and British rival AstraZeneca's Bydureon, or exenatide, was also part of the review.
The panel said that manufacturers of these drugs should continue to monitor safety events closely and report any new data to the regulator.
In July, the regulator also began reviewing a group of GLP-1 drugs after Iceland's health regulator flagged three cases of patients thinking about suicide or self-harm after using Novo's medications.
GLP-1 receptor agonists, originally developed to help control blood sugar in patients with diabetes, also slow digestion and reduce hunger.
Mounjaro, a similar diabetes medicine from Eli Lilly, is also being used off-label as a weight loss medication.
Read also: Novo Nordisk to stop once-weekly injectable semaglutide kidney outcomes trial
Disclaimer: This website is primarily for healthcare professionals. The content here does not replace medical advice and should not be used as medical, diagnostic, endorsement, treatment, or prescription advice. Medical science evolves rapidly, and we strive to keep our information current. If you find any discrepancies, please contact us at corrections@medicaldialogues.in. Read our Correction Policy here. Nothing here should be used as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We do not endorse any healthcare advice that contradicts a physician's guidance. Use of this site is subject to our Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, and Advertisement Policy. For more details, read our Full Disclaimer here.
NOTE: Join us in combating medical misinformation. If you encounter a questionable health, medical, or medical education claim, email us at factcheck@medicaldialogues.in for evaluation.