Health authorities have received reports suggesting a possible link between weight-loss injections and over 200 deaths, according to newly published figures. Alongside these deaths, more than 158,000 adverse reactions related to these medications have also been documented.
The UK’s Medicine and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) collects and monitors data through its Yellow Card Scheme, where individuals can report suspected side effects from medicines. Recent data from this scheme shows that tirzepatide, marketed as Mounjaro, has been associated with 106,189 adverse reactions, including gastrointestinal issues, and 120 reported deaths.
Similarly, semaglutide, the active ingredient in the weight-loss drug Wegovy as well as the diabetes treatments Ozempic and Rybelsus, has been linked to 48,089 reported reactions and 59 deaths. Meanwhile, liraglutide, sold under the name Saxenda for weight loss and used in other brand forms for diabetes treatment, has 4,491 adverse reactions and 37 deaths reported.
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It is important to note that reports submitted to the Yellow Card Scheme represent suspicions of a link rather than confirmed causation. The MHRA emphasises that the figures do not confirm that the medicines caused the deaths or adverse effects, only that they were suspected to be connected by those reporting.
An MHRA spokesperson commented:
“It is important to place these reports in the context of the millions of GLP-1 prescriptions issued in the UK. Reporting volumes can be influenced by increased use, greater awareness of a potential adverse reaction and other factors.
As with all medicines, the safety of GLP-1s is kept under continual review including emerging evidence from spontaneous data and scientific publications. Any potential updates regarding safety for these medicines would be promptly communicated to patients and healthcare professionals, with appropriate steps taken to mitigate any identified risk.
On the basis of the current evidence, the benefits of GLP-1 receptor agonists outweigh the potential risks when used in line with their authorised uses.”
Health Secretary Yvette Cooper spoke on LBC Radio about regulations in place to ensure patient safety, saying: “We have a whole system of health safety regulations where experts monitor any adverse impacts, safety reports, and concerns raised.
“The advantage of having a National Health Service is that all these reports can be collected and monitored collectively.
“We ensure that expert regulators are continuously reviewing this information and, if wider concerns or issues arise, they are promptly communicated to the health secretary, health ministers, and the public to maintain safety as the highest priority.”