UK Authorities Investigating Potential Suicidal Risks Linked to Wegovy and Ozempic

Health authorities in the UK are currently conducting a review of obesity and diabetes drugs such as Wegovy and Ozempic by Novo Nordisk. This comes as some patients who took these treatments reported thoughts of suicide or self-harm. The investigation into potentially life-threatening side effects coincides with the increasing popularity of these drugs in the US, as they are known to help people achieve significant weight loss over time.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in the UK has not specified when it will complete its review of safety data on these treatments. However, earlier this month, authorities in the European Union launched a similar investigation into these drugs.

The MHRA’s review includes all obesity and diabetes drugs available in the UK, including Saxenda, another weight loss drug by Novo Nordisk. It also encompasses other diabetes drugs like AstraZeneca’s Bydureon, Eli Lilly’s Trulicity, and Sanofi’s Lyxumia.

All these drugs belong to a class called GLP-1 receptor agonists, which imitate a hormone produced in the gut to curb appetite and manage Type 2 diabetes. The MHRA stated that patient safety is its utmost priority and it will carefully evaluate all available evidence before communicating further advice to patients and healthcare professionals.

Novo Nordisk received a review request from the MHRA on Monday and will respond within the requested timelines. Sanofi acknowledged the review and is collaborating with the MHRA. The company’s pharmacovigilance monitoring system has not identified any safety concerns related to GLP-1s. AstraZeneca and Eli Lilly have not yet commented on the MHRA’s review.

According to the MHRA, it received five reports of suspected adverse drug reactions associated with suicidal and self-injurious behavior in patients who took Ozempic and Wegovy between 2020 and July 6 this year. The agency also received 12 similar reports for Saxenda between 2010 and July 6. However, the MHRA emphasized that these reports do not prove causation between the drugs and the adverse reactions.

The US prescribing information for Wegovy and Saxenda already advises healthcare providers to monitor for suicidal behavior and ideation. Clinical trials for Saxenda found that 9 out of 3,300 people on the drug reported suicidal ideation, compared to 2 people out of more than 1,900 on a placebo. However, the prescribing information states that there is insufficient information to establish a causal relationship between suicidal ideation and Saxenda. The prescribing information for Ozempic and other GLP-1s in the US does not include a similar recommendation, as they are typically used at lower doses.

If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the US at 988 or the Samaritans in the UK at 116 123.