The medical director of the NHS has warned that 82 people in the UK have died after taking drugs for diabetes and weight loss, after new figures released by the country’s medicines regulator.
The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) revealed that fatalities associated with the use of GLP-1RA receptor agonist drugs like Mounjaro, Wegovy and Ozempic – up to 31 January – included 22 deaths where the victim was using the drugs to lose weight, an increase from 10 in October as the medications continue rise in popularity.
The MHRA said it had received reports of 18 deaths associated with tirzepatide, commercially known as Mounjaro; 29 deaths associated with semaglutide – brand names Ozempic, Rybelsus and Wegovy – and 35 deaths associated with single-constituent liraglutide, more commonly known as Saxenda or Victoza.
The Independent reports that as the drugs have increased in popularity, regulators have scrambled to ensure they are handed out appropriately, with the pharmacy watchdog tightening rules around how the medications are prescribed.
The advertising regulator has also begun nine separate investigations into alleged inappropriate marketing of the drugs.
NHS medical director Professor Sir Stephen Powis warned against obtaining the drugs online, adding “they’re also not a magic bullet and need to be prescribed alongside programmes that help people live healthier lives by making changes to their diet and physical activity”.
In a statement, Mounjaro manufacturer Eli Lilly said patient safety was the pharmaceutical company’s “top priority” and it actively monitored, evaluated and reported all safety information.
A spokesperson for Novo Nordisk (Ozempic, Rybelsus and Wegovy) said the drugs should be taken for their approved indications and supervised by a healthcare professional.
The Independent article – Weight loss drugs linked to dozens of deaths (Open access)
See more from MedicalBrief archives:
SAHPRA and drug companies flag risks of compounded weight-loss drugs
The mystery behind new obesity drugs
Why I think weight loss drugs are not the answer – US obesity expert