Apr 9, 2024,07:00pm EDT
Recent extensive research suggests that widely used medications for diabetes and weight loss, such as Ozempic and Wegovy, belonging to the class of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1), do not significantly elevate the risk of developing thyroid cancer. Conducted as one of the largest studies investigating this link to date, this research contributes to the ongoing discussion surrounding this topic.
Here are the key points:
Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1) are medications aimed at managing obesity and type 2 diabetes. They work by interacting with the hunger center of the brain, thereby reducing appetite, and by lowering blood sugar and A1C levels.
The study analyzed health data from 145,410 patients across Denmark, Sweden, and Norway who were prescribed GLP-1 medications like semaglutide (generic name for Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus) and liraglutide (generic name for Saxenda and Victoza), alongside another 291,667 patients treated with DPP4 inhibitors, another type of diabetes drug.
Over an average follow-up period of about four years, the incidence of thyroid cancer was low, with 76 participants treated with GLP-1 drugs and 184 participants treated with DPP4 inhibitors developing thyroid cancer.
While the study found no substantial increase in the risk of thyroid cancer associated with GLP-1 use, it couldn’t entirely rule out a small increase in risk.
A secondary analysis comparing GLP-1 drugs to another form of diabetes medication called SGLT2 inhibitors yielded consistent results.
Björn Pasternak, the study’s lead author and principal researcher at the Department of Medicine, Solna, at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden, emphasized the study’s broad scope, asserting strong evidence supporting the conclusion that GLP-1 analogues are not linked to an elevated risk of thyroid cancer.
However, it’s worth noting contrasting findings from previous studies, which have suggested a potential association between GLP-1 drugs and thyroid cancer in humans. Despite these findings, regulatory agencies such as the European Medicines Association have not established a causal link between GLP-1 drugs and thyroid cancer, citing insufficient evidence.
While Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, Saxenda, and Victoza, acknowledges thyroid cancer as a potential side effect and advises against their use in individuals with a family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma, definitive conclusions regarding the risk remain elusive.
In summary, while some studies hint at a possible association between GLP-1 drugs and thyroid cancer, current evidence, including this recent comprehensive study, does not strongly support such a link.