Does Ozempic Really Cause Thyroid Cancer? What the Science Actually Says

For all the buzz surrounding Ozempic and similar GLP-1 drugs for weight loss, there are also plenty of concerns about potential serious or long-term side effects. Among the scariest of these fears is that GLP-1 drugs may cause certain types of thyroid cancer. The risk is relevant enough that the Food and Drug Administration has long required GLP-1 drugs to carry warnings advising people with a higher risk, such as those with a family history of certain cancers, to avoid using them. The first GLP-1 medication (for type 2 diabetes) hit the market 20 years ago, however. Since their arrival, scientists have conducted numerous studies examining whether these drugs really do trigger thyroid cancer— including a study published last January in JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery. Overall, this research, like many but not all studies, found no significant increased risk in thyroid cancer associated with GLP-1 use (compared to other diabetes medications). Beyond the main results, the find ... Read full article.