Britain’s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has concluded that there is no evidence connecting a popular class of diabetes and obesity medications, such as Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy, to suicidal thoughts or behaviors.
What Prompted the Review?
The MHRA started investigating the safety of GLP-1 receptor agonists over a year ago after some patients reported experiencing suicidal thoughts or self-harming behaviors. This class of drugs includes Wegovy and Ozempic, which is commonly used for treating Type 2 diabetes.
Findings of the Review
After thoroughly reviewing the available data, the MHRA stated that no causal link was found between these drugs and issues like suicide, suicidal thoughts, or depression. Therefore, the agency does not see the need for any changes to the safety information for these medications.
Global Perspective
This conclusion aligns with the findings of other health regulators. Earlier this year, the European Union’s drug regulator also found no evidence linking these drugs to suicidal thoughts. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) similarly announced in January that it had not found any connection between GLP-1 drugs and suicidal thoughts, but it would continue monitoring the situation.