No casual link found between GLP-1 drugs like Novo Nordisk Ozempic, thyroid cancer: EMA

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.