Hey friends! 🌟 Great news from the European Union that's got everyone talking!
After a nine-month deep dive, the EU's drug regulator has found NO evidence linking super-popular weight-loss and diabetes drugs—like Novo Nordisk's Wegovy—to suicidal thoughts.
The Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (that's a mouthful, right? 😅), which keeps an eye on drug side effects, said there's no need to update the safety info on these treatments. Basically, they've given these meds a thumbs-up! 👍
Shares of Danish company Novo Nordisk even got a nice boost, jumping over 2% after the news broke. Novo says they'll keep an eye out for any side effects, including anything related to mental health, just to be safe.
So what's the scoop? The EMA (that's the European Medicines Agency) started looking into these drugs back in July after Iceland reported three cases where patients had thoughts of self-harm after using Novo's meds.
They focused on medicines with semaglutide or liraglutide—fancy names for the active ingredients in popular treatments like Wegovy, Ozempic, and Saxenda.
But after sifting through a ton of data, including a big U.S. study, they found no direct link between these drugs and suicidal thoughts. Phew! 😌
Even the U.S. FDA (that's the Food and Drug Administration) did a review earlier this year and found nothing connecting these meds to suicide risks.
Dr. Robert Kushner from Northwestern University said, \"I hope it's reassuring to patients and prescribers that after a thorough review by two regulatory agencies…there does not appear to be an increased risk of suicidal behavior.\" He added that if anyone feels a change in their mental health while on these meds, they should chat with their doctor.
Meanwhile, the UK's Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency is still doing its own review, so we'll keep you posted!
These GLP-1 receptor agonists (that's the type of drugs we're talking about) have been game-changers for people with diabetes and those looking to manage their weight. They help control blood sugar, slow down digestion, and reduce hunger.
So, for now, it looks like these treatments are safe, but as always, if you're on them or thinking about it, make sure to have a convo with your healthcare provider! Stay informed and stay healthy! 💪
Reference(s):
EU rules out link between weight-loss drugs and suicidal thoughts
cgtn.com
