European regulator to review weight-loss drugs following reports of suicidal thoughts

The European Medicines Agency is to undertake a reappraisal into a fig of drugs utilized to dainty obesity and diabetes, according to Reuters, aft it was reported immoderate patients had experienced thoughts of termination oregon self-harm.

Reuters said Monday that the regulator was looking astatine Novo Nordisk's Ozempic, which is utilized to dainty benignant 2 diabetes, and weight-loss cause Saxenda.

Shares of the Danish drugmaker were somewhat higher connected Monday afternoon, paring earlier losses.

A abstracted study from the BBC said the EMA would besides reappraisal Novo Nordisk's Wegovy which, similar Saxenda, is utilized to assistance weight-loss.

Both media outlets said the reappraisal would absorption connected products containing liraglutide oregon semaglutide. Saxenda's progressive constituent is liraglutide. The progressive constituent successful Wegovy and Ozempic is semaglutide.

Reports of the probe travel aft the Icelandic Medicines Agency notified the EMA of "three cases of patients connected the drugs reasoning astir termination oregon self-harm," Reuters said.

In a connection sent to CNBC, Novo Nordisk said, "Patient information is simply a apical precedence for Novo Nordisk, and we instrumentality each reports astir adverse events from usage of our medicines precise seriously."

"GLP-1 receptor agonists person been utilized to dainty benignant 2 diabetes for much than 15 years and for attraction of obesity for 8 years, including Novo Nordisk products specified arsenic semaglutide and liraglutide that person been connected the marketplace for much than 10 years," it added.

"The information information collected from ample objective proceedings programs and station selling surveillance person not demonstrated a causal relation betwixt semaglutide oregon liraglutide and suicidal and self-harming thoughts."

The concern said that it was "continuously performing surveillance of the information from ongoing objective trials and real-world usage of its products and collaborates intimately with the authorities to guarantee diligent information and capable accusation to healthcare professionals."

"EMA continuously monitors for information signals and truthful does Novo Nordisk," it said. "Novo Nordisk remains assured successful the payment hazard illustration of the products and remains committed to ensuring diligent safety."

The EMA was not instantly disposable to remark erstwhile contacted by CNBC.