Hundreds of individuals have reported pancreas issues associated with weight loss and diabetes injections, leading health officials to launch a study into potential side effects. Some instances of pancreatitis, reportedly connected to GLP-1 medicines (glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists), have resulted in fatalities.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) data reveals that since the licensing of these drugs, there have been hundreds of acute and chronic pancreatitis cases among those taking GLP-1 medicines.
This includes:
181 reported cases of acute and chronic pancreatitis linked to tirzepatide – the active ingredient for Mounjaro. Five people died. 116 reported reactions of this kind linked to liraglutide, one of which was fatal. 113 cases of acute and chronic pancreatitis linked to semaglutide – the active ingredient for Ozempic (licensed to treat type 2 diabetes) and Wegovy. One person died. 101 reported reactions of this kind linked to exenatide, three people died. 52 reported reactions of this sort linked to dulaglutide and 11 reported reactions lixisenatide. No fatalities were linked to either drug.
These incidents are not definitively attributed to the medication, but the person who reported them, suspected a possible link. However, the Yellow Card Biobank project, a collaboration between the MHRA and Genomics England, will investigate whether pancreatitis cases linked to GLP-1 drugs could be influenced by genetic factors.
The MHRA is urging individuals taking GLP-1 medicine who have been hospitalised due to acute pancreatitis to submit a report to its Yellow Card scheme. Upon receipt of a Yellow Card report, the MHRA will reach out to patients to inquire if they would be willing to participate in the study.
Patients are being invited to provide additional details and a saliva sample for examination, which will determine if genetic factors may increase their risk of acute pancreatitis when taking certain medicines. GLP-1 agonists, commonly used to reduce blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes, are also prescribed to aid weight loss for some individuals, reports Wales Online.
Recent estimates suggest that about 1.5 million people in the UK are taking weight loss jabs. Health officials have suggested that they can help to turn the tide on obesity, but have stressed they are not a silver bullet and do come with side effects.
Most side effects linked to the jabs are gastrointestinal including nausea, constipation and diarrhoea. And the medical regulator recently warned that Mounjaro may make the oral contraceptive pill less effective in some patients.
Dr Alison Cave, MHRA’s chief safety officer, said: “Evidence shows that almost a third of side effects to medicines could be prevented with the introduction of genetic testing, it is predicted that adverse drug reactions could cost the NHS more than £2.2 billion a year in hospital stays alone.
“Information from the Yellow Card Biobank will help us to better predict those most at risk of adverse reactions – enabling patients across the UK to receive the safest medicine for them, based on their genetic makeup. To help us help you, we’re asking anyone who has been hospitalised with acute pancreatitis while taking a GLP-1 medicine to report this to us via our Yellow Card scheme.
“Even if you don’t meet the criteria for this phase of the Biobank study, information about your reaction to a medication is always extremely valuable in helping to improve patient safety.”
Professor Matt Brown, chief scientific officer of Genomics England, said: “GLP-1 medicines like Ozempic and Wegovy have been making headlines, but like all medicines there can be a risk of serious side effects. We believe there is real potential to minimise these with many adverse reactions having a genetic cause.
“This next step in our partnership with the MHRA will generate data and evidence for safer and more effective treatment through more personalised approaches to prescription, supporting a shift towards an increasingly prevention-focused healthcare system.”
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