Does Ozempic^® Cause Cancer?

Key takeaways:

• Semaglutide — the active ingredient in Ozempic^® — causes thyroid tumors in rodents. But it’s unclear if this happens in humans.

• Currently, research hasn’t found a link between Ozempic^® and any type of cancer.

• Ozempic^® may reduce the risk of obesity-related cancers by supporting weight loss.

You might have heard about Ozempic^® (semaglutide) and its link to thyroid tumors. So, does Ozempic^® cause cancer? It doesn’t look like it.

It can cause thyroid tumors in rats and mice, but more research is needed to know if that can happen in humans. Currently, there isn’t any research linking Ozempic^® to any type of cancer in humans.

Read on for what we know about Ozempic^® and cancer, including why the health benefits may outweigh the risks.

We need more research to know whether Ozempic^® causes cancer. Currently, research hasn’t found a link between Ozempic^® and cancer.

So, why have you heard about a link?

Well, Ozempic^® comes with a boxed warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) stating that semaglutide (the active ingredient) causes thyroid C-cell tumors in rodents. This happened in animal studies after lifetime exposure to the medication.

It’s unknown if semaglutide can increase the risk of thyroid tumors in humans, but research so far suggests it doesn’t.

Research on Ozempic^® Cancer Risk Percentage

A 2023 systematic review and meta-analysis looked at 37 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and 19 real-world studies. It found that people taking semaglutide and participants in control groups had a similar occurrence of:

• Thyroid cancer

• Pancreatic cancer

• All types of abnormal tissue growth

The research concluded: “Semaglutide use in RCTs and real-world studies was not associated with an increased risk of any types of cancer, and this conclusion is supported by a high grade of evidence.”

Beyond this, there were no cancer reports in Ozempic^® clinical trials. So there’s no Ozempic^® cancer risk percentage.

Also, research shows GLP-1s like Ozempic^® specifically don’t increase breast cancer risk.

GLP-1s are glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, a class of prescription drugs that includes:

• Semaglutide (Ozempic^®, Wegovy^®)

• Liraglutide (Victoza^®, Saxenda^®)

• Tirzepatide (Mounjaro^®, Zepbound^®)

→ Learn more: Long-Term Effects of Ozempic^®

There’s concern that Ozempic^® may increase the risk of thyroid cancer in particular. But current research suggests that may not be the case.

A 2024 review of studies looked at 10 randomized controlled trials. It found that less than 1 percent of those taking semaglutide developed thyroid cancer, “suggesting no significant risk.”

GLP-1s and Thyroid Cancer Risk

A 2025 study looked at people taking GLP-1 medications and three other diabetes drugs.

Overall, the risk of thyroid cancer wasn’t higher in those taking GLP-1s compared to the other drugs. But the risk of a new diagnosis was higher in the first year after starting a GLP-1 compared to the other diabetes medications.

Researchers said this finding might come down to “enhanced early detection.” This means healthcare providers may educate their patients on the potential symptoms to look out for when taking GLP-1s. Patients may then find signs of thyroid cancer that they might not have noticed otherwise.

Btw, it may not be a risk you need to worry about, but it’s good to know the symptoms. Symptoms of thyroid tumors include:

• Difficulty swallowing

• Shortness of breath

• Persistent hoarseness

• A lump in the neck

While we wait for more research, people with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) — a rare type of thyroid cancer — and those with multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2) — an endocrine cancer — shouldn’t take Ozempic^®.

We might not know the full link between Ozempic^® and cancer, but we do know that obesity is linked to a higher risk of at least 13 types of cancer, including breast, liver, and thyroid cancer.

Ozempic^® is approved by the FDA to help people with type 2 diabetes manage their blood sugar levels (glucose). It’s sometimes used off-label as a weight loss drug for those with overweight or obesity.

Ozempic^® can help you lose weight and achieve a healthy body weight. So the health benefits of taking the medication may outweigh any potential risks.

Health Benefits of Treating Obesity

GLP-1 drugs may lower your risk of certain cancers.

One study found that GLP-1s are associated with a lower risk of obesity-related cancers than bariatric surgery in those with a body mass index (BMI) of 35 or more.

Research from 2024 looking at 1.1 million participants found that GLP-1s, especially semaglutide, may reduce cancer risk for people with obesity. Specifically, it might lower the risk of these types of cancers:

• Gastrointestinal

• Breast

• Uterine

• Blood

• Prostate

It’s not just those with obesity. Compared to insulin, taking a GLP-1 is associated with lower risks of obesity-related cancers in people with type 2 diabetes.

Some of those cancers include:

• Kidney

• Gallbladder

• Pancreatic

• Ovarian

This may be because GLP-1s can better control type 2 diabetes and weight than insulin. But, once again, we need more research.

Beyond lowering the risk of cancer, losing weight can improve your health in many ways. This includes lowering the risk of: 

• Type 2 diabetes

• Heart disease

• Stroke

• Kidney disease

• Mental health problems

• Fertility issues

→ Read: Does Ozempic^® Affect Fertility?

It can feel scary looking into the potential side effects of weight loss medications, especially when there’s a boxed warning. But the research we have so far doesn’t show an increased cancer risk when taking Ozempic^®.

Here’s the tl;dr:

• Ozempic^® isn’t linked to thyroid cancer in humans. Semaglutide causes thyroid tumors in rodents. However, current research hasn’t found a link between semaglutide and medullary thyroid cancer in humans.

• Ozempic^® isn’t linked with other cancers. Besides thyroid cancer, Ozempic^® isn’t associated with a higher risk of pancreatic cancer, breast cancer, or any abnormal cell growth.

• Obesity is linked with cancer. Obesity increases the risk for at least 13 types of cancer. Ozempic^® can help you lose weight and achieve a healthy weight, lowering the risk of these conditions and other weight-related health issues.

Your best bet? Let your prescribing healthcare provider know about any personal or family history of cancer. They can help you weigh the benefits vs. the potential risks of taking GLP-1 medication.

If you’re considering Ozempic^® or any other weight loss medication, take our free online assessment. A licensed healthcare professional can look at your medical history to make sure you’re eligible and, if you are, recommend the best treatment plan.

See answers to frequently asked questions about Ozempic^®, obesity, and cancer risk below.

Does Ozempic^® cause thyroid cancer?

Research found that Ozempic^® can cause thyroid tumors in rodents, but current research hasn’t found a link between Ozempic^® and thyroid cancer in humans.

Does Ozempic^® cause breast cancer? 

There’s currently no research showing that Ozempic^® causes breast cancer. More research is needed to know for sure. And losing weight on Ozempic^® may actually lower the risk of breast cancer.

Does Ozempic^® cause pancreatic cancer?

There’s currently no research showing that Ozempic^® causes pancreatic cancer. We need more research on the topic, but losing weight on Ozempic^® may reduce the risk of pancreatic cancer.