EU Asks for Details on Anesthesia Risks for Weight-Loss Drugs

European authorities have asked four companies, including Novo Nordisk A/S and Eli Lilly & Co., to provide more information about possible anesthesia complications from the use of weight-loss and diabetes drugs.

The European Medicines Agency’s safety committee, PRAC, made the request following a meeting in September where the popular weight-loss and diabetes drugs were discussed.

The probe comes after the American Society of Anesthesiologists issued guidance in June to suggest that patients skip a dose of the drugs prior to surgery. As the drugs delay the emptying of the stomach, there’s a risk that same food may remain even if ...