People Who Take Novo Nordisk’s GLP-1 Drug Are At A Greater Risk Of Developing Suicidal Thoughts If They Also Suffer From Anxiety Or Depressive Disorders

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Novo Nordisk's go-to GLP-1 drug formulation, which uses semaglutide as the primary agonist, is increasingly being left behind in the weight loss efficacy race, overshadowed by the next-gen offerings from the likes of Eli Lilly and Company and VK Therapeutics. Now, a new study also raises the specter of suicidal ideation vis-a-vis Novo Nordisk's primary anti-diabetes and anti-obesity offering.

GLP-1 Drugs: Risks Vs. Reward

The GLP-1 drugs from the likes of Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly and Company mimic the GLP-1 hormone that is released naturally in the gastrointestinal tract as a response to eating. The hormone increases the level of insulin, which then reduces the blood's sugar level. In addition, these drugs also bind to brain receptors, reducing the rate at which the stomach empties its contents into the small intestine and creating a feeling of fullness and satiation in the process.

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Novo Nordisk (NVO) uses semaglutide as its proprietary GLP-1 agonist in drugs that are marketed under Ozempic and Wegovy labels, with the former geared toward type-2 diabetes and the latter marketed as a treatment for obesity.

Similarly, Eli Lilly and Company (LLY) offers tirzepatide as one of its proprietary drugs to combat diabetes and obesity, marketing it under the Mounjaro and Zepbound labels, with the former geared toward diabetes and the latter billed as a treatment for obesity. In fact, the company's CEO recently claimed that people who used Zepbound consumed 800 calories less per day.

Of course, the newer offering from Eli Lilly and Company that leverages GLP-1/GIP dual agonists continues to outperform in terms of efficacy, with a recent study noting that the drug is able to reduce the