Ozempic-like fat jabs taken by millions linked to 181 cases of killer side effect and 5 deaths, health officials warn
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FAT jabs have been linked to hundreds of people falling ill with a life-threatening illness and 10 deaths, the UK's drug watchdog has warned.
Brits have reported falling seriously ill with pancreatitis, a condition where the pancreas becomes inflamed, after taking popular weight loss and diabetes drugs.
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Fresh figures from the UK's medicines regulator reveal more than 560 suspected cases of the illness linked to so-called GLP-1 drugs, which include Mounjaro, Wegovy and Ozempic.
At least ten of these cases were fatal, although it's not clear the drugs were directly to blame.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) says the reports have triggered a new investigation into whether people's genes could make them more vulnerable to side effects.
Since the drugs were approved for use, 181 cases of pancreatitis have been linked to tirzepatide, the active ingredient in Mounjaro, including five deaths.
Another 113 cases have been linked to semaglutide, found in Wegovy and Ozempic, with one fatality. Liraglutide, another weight loss jab, has been tied to 116 suspected cases and one death.
Exenatide has been linked to 101 cases, including three deaths, while dulaglutide and lixisenatide have been associated with 63 cases in total, with no known fatalities.
The MHRA said these are suspected adverse reactions reported by patients, carers or doctors and there is no firm evidence that the jabs directly caused the deaths.
Pancreatitis can also develop in people who don't take these drugs, and is often triggered by gallstones or alcohol.
However, regulators believe there could be a genetic link in some patients, and are now launching a study to investigate.
The Yellow Card Biobank project, set up with Genomics England, is calling on anyone who has been admitted to hospital with pancreatitis while taking a GLP-1 drug to come forward and provide a saliva sample for analysis.
Julia Hartley-Brewer slams government plan for NHS to offer free 'fat jabs' to tackle obesity crisis
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."
Pancreatitis is a painful condition that causes severe stomach pain, vomiting and fever.
Acute cases usually clear up with fluids and oxygen in hospital, but around five per cent are fatal or cause lasting damage.
Despite the risks, experts say the drugs are still safe and effective for most patients.
They help control blood sugar, trigger rapid weight loss, and cut the risk of dying from heart disease by around a fifth in people with obesity or type 2 diabetes.
Roughly 1.5million people in the UK are now taking GLP-1 drugs, which have been hailed by some as game-changers in the fight against obesity.
But health officials warn they are not a silver bullet and can come with side effects, most commonly nausea, constipation and diarrhoea.
The MHRA also recently warned that Mounjaro could reduce the effectiveness of the contraceptive pill in some patients.
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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