The blockbuster type 2 diabetes and obesity drug semaglutide was associated with a lower risk of suicidal ideation compared to other obesity and type 2 diabetes drugs, according to an NIH-funded study published Friday.
The study, published in Nature Medicine, found that semaglutide, which targets glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptors, was associated with a 49% to 73% lower risk of first-time or recurring suicidal ideations compared to other drugs for obesity and diabetes that work through different mechanisms. The study comes after reported cases of suicidal thoughts and self harm in patients taking semaglutide in recent months, which raised flags for the FDA and the European Medicines Agency.
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