Health Canada assessing popular diabetes, weight-loss drugs like Ozempic for suicide risk

Health Canada is independently reviewing a class of drugs used in diabetes and weight-loss medications following reports that they may lead to a risk of suicide.

In an email on Friday, the federal department told CBC News that it would be doing an assessment of Canadian and international data that looks at the risk of suicidal thoughts, self-harm and suicide when it comes to a class of drugs known as GLP-1 receptor agonists.

"Health Canada continues to monitor all side-effects of marketed health products ... to help ensure that the benefits of the product continue to outweigh the risks," the statement says.

The decision comes after the European Medicines Agency and the U.K.'s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said recently they were also reviewing the drugs because of reports that people's mental health had been impacted.

"I think it is important that safety is first if there is any indication of any adverse effects that are concerning and are serious, that any health authority ought to look into it in a serious manner," said Dr. Sean Wharton, an obesity doctor who has clinics in Ontario.

Some of Wharton's clinical research is done in partnership with the companies whose medications will likely be under review by Health Canada.

GLP-1 receptor agonists, which were originally developed to treat Type 2 diabetes, have been used for more than 15 years.

In the last eight years, they've also been used to treat obesity, as they mimic a gut hormone that suppresses appetite, promoting a feeling of fullness.

GLP-1 receptor agonists are a class of drugs used in popular medications such as Novo Nordisk's Ozempic, which contains the active ingredient semaglutide and is approved to treat Type 2 diabetes.

The drug has also made headlines recently because it's being used for weight loss.

While Health Canada didn't specifically say which brand-name medications are included in its review, the following will likely be under consideration, along with Ozempic: 

Novo Nordisk said in an email to CBC News on Friday that patient safety is of "utmost importance."

"We take all reports about adverse events from use of our medicines very seriously," its statement says.

"Our team is continuously monitoring the safety profile of our products and collaborating closely with health authorities to ensure patient safety information, including adequate information on side-effects, are included in the product monograph."