Britain is reviewing a class of drugs used in a diabetes medicine and a weight-loss treatment sold by Novo Nordisk (NOVOb.CO) after some patients reported suicidal or self-harming thoughts, two weeks after similar action by the European Union.
Reuters reports that the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said in a statement it was reviewing safety data on a class of drugs known as GLP-1 receptor agonists.
This includes Novo's Ozempic, which contains the active ingredient semaglutide and is approved to treat type 2 diabetes.
It also includes Novo's Saxenda, which contains the active ingredient liraglutide and is approved as a weight-loss treatment. Saxenda is Novo's older GLP-1 drug and has lower effectiveness than its newer obesity treatment Wegovy, which contains semaglutide.
Novo said it had received a request on Monday from the MHRA about the agency's review of potential suicidal and self-harming thoughts related to GLP-1 drugs.
"The review is ongoing and a response will be provided within the requested timelines," it said in a statement.
The MHRA said AstraZeneca's GLP-1 drug for type 2 diabetes, called exenatide and marketed as Bydureon, was also included in the review. AstraZeneca did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday.
The MHRA said that two other GLP-1 drugs, Sanofi's (SASY.PA) lixisenatide and Eli Lilly's (LLY.N) dulaglutide, were also included. Sanofi did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday.
"We are aware of the MHRA’s review," Eli Lilly said in a statement. "Patient safety is Lilly’s top priority, and we will respond to the review regarding safety signals related to dulaglutide (Trulicity) as part of our routine regulatory review processes."
GLP-1 receptor agonists were originally developed to treat type 2 diabetes. They mimic a gut hormone that suppresses appetite, promoting the feeling of fullness.
The MHRA told Reuters that its review was initiated on 12 July. The agency said it could not specify when it would conclude or what the results might be.
Between 2020 and 6 July this year, the MHRA received five reports of suspected adverse drug reactions involving semaglutide associated with "suicidal and self-injurious behaviour", via its Yellow Card scheme for collecting and monitoring safety concerns such as side effects from medicines.
Between 2010 and 6 July this year, the MHRA received 12 suspected adverse drug reactions involving liraglutide also associated with "suicidal and self-injurious behaviour".
The European Medicines Agency said earlier this month it had begun investigating GLP-1 drugs after Iceland's health regulator flagged three cases of patients thinking about suicide or self-harm.
It is also investigating GLP-1 drugs for possible risk of thyroid cancer.