Bloomberg said in an article Thursday that findings published in the JAMA medical journal show Novo Nordisk (NYSE:NVO) A/S drugs, commonly used for weight loss, have been linked to an increased risk of bowel obstructions and other gastrointestinal side effects in patients with obesity than an older treatment.
The findings were published on Thursday, with researchers, using a health database, comparing the side effects from Novo's drugs, such as Ozempic, Wegovy and Saxenda, with those of weight-loss medication called Contrave.
Bloomberg said the findings showed that patients on the Novo drugs were approximately nine times more likely to develop swelling of the pancreas compared to those taking Contrave.
The Novo drugs, called GLP-1s, were also linked with increased risks of bowel obstruction and delayed stomach emptying.
The study's authors are said to have noted that “the risk-benefit calculus for this group might differ from that of those who use them for diabetes."