Novo Nordisk inventory worth drops as diabetes and weight-loss medication Ozempic and Saxenda investigated

Two medication used as diabetes and weight-loss therapies are being investigated after some sufferers reported having suicidal ideas.

Both Ozempic and Saxenda are being investigated by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), after Iceland’s well being regulator flagged two circumstances of Ozempic sufferers having suicidal ideas and one on Saxenda interested by self-harm.

Ozempic, which comprises the energetic ingredient semaglutide, was designed as a diabetes therapy however has gained reputation as a “miracle” weight-loss help.

It is produced by Novo Nordisk, the Danish drugmaker. Shares within the agency fell by 1% on Monday following information of the investigation, Reuters reported.

Novo’s earlier and fewer efficient weight-loss drug, Saxenda, can be an injection that suppresses urge for food.

It comprises liraglutide and within the UK is out there on prescription as part of a weight administration plan.

Novo Nordisk mentioned affected person security was its prime precedence and it handled all stories about antagonistic occasions very critically.

Its security monitoring had thus far discovered no “causal association” between the self-harming ideas and the medication, it mentioned in a press release.

Suicidal ideas should not listed as a facet impact within the EU product info for both drug.

But within the US, prescribing directions for Wegovy – which additionally comprises semaglutide – say sufferers must be monitored for suicidal ideas or behaviour.

The warning is there due to dangers related to different weight administration medication, reasonably than as a result of drug trials advised an elevated threat of suicidal behaviour, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) mentioned.

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There have been a minimum of 60 stories of suicidal ideas in sufferers on semaglutide since 2018, in line with the FDA’s Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).

At least 70 stories of suicidal considering in customers of liraglutide have been made to the FAERS since 2010.

Information in these stories has not been verified and a report just isn’t proof of causation, the FDA mentioned.

The EMA mentioned it could think about whether or not its assessment must be prolonged to different medicines that regulate urge for food by mimicking a intestine hormone, often called GLP-1 receptor agonists.