Key facts
- Hundreds of people have reported health issues, including pancreatitis, allegedly linked to GLP-1 medicines.
- Official figures indicate dozens of deaths have a suspected link to weight-loss drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro.
- The MHRA is investigating potential side effects, including pancreatitis, and has launched a genetic study.
- Data shows reported cases of pancreatitis linked to tirzepatide, liraglutide, and semaglutide, with associated fatalities.
- The Yellow Card Biobank project aims to determine if genetic factors increase the risk of adverse drug reactions.
The UK's medicines regulator is investigating hundreds of suspected deaths and acute health problems, including pancreatitis, allegedly linked to popular weight-loss and diabetes injections such as Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has revealed that since these drugs were approved, there have been hundreds of reported cases of acute and chronic pancreatitis among users of GLP-1 medicines. Official figures indicate that 82 deaths have a suspected link to these medications, with 22 specifically linked when used for weight loss up to January 2025, and an additional 60 deaths associated with their use for type 2 diabetes.
Data shows specific numbers of pancreatitis cases and associated fatalities for various drugs: 181 cases linked to tirzepatide (Mounjaro) with five deaths; 116 cases linked to liraglutide with one death; 113 cases linked to semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) with one death; and 101 cases linked to exenatide with three deaths. No fatalities were linked to dulaglutide or lixisenatide in the reported cases.
These incidents are not confirmed as direct causes of death or illness, but reporters suspect the medications may be a contributing factor. Around 400 people are believed to have been hospitalised after taking these drugs.
In response, the MHRA, in collaboration with Genomics England, has launched the Yellow Card Biobank project. This study will investigate whether genetic factors influence the risk of developing pancreatitis from GLP-1 drugs. Patients hospitalized with acute pancreatitis while taking these medications are being urged to report their cases to the MHRA to potentially participate in the study by providing further details and a saliva sample for genetic analysis.
GLP-1 agonists are widely used for type 2 diabetes and weight loss, with approximately 1.5 million people in the UK using weight loss injections. While health officials acknowledge their potential in combating obesity, they caution against viewing them as a universal solution and highlight potential side effects, which commonly include nausea, constipation, and diarrhea. Concerns have also been raised about Mounjaro potentially reducing the effectiveness of contraceptive pills.