Latest news with #JuliaHartley-Brewer
Scottish Sun
26-06-2025
- Health
- Scottish Sun
Ozempic-like fat jabs taken by millions linked to 181 cases of killer side effect and 5 deaths, health officials warn
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) 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. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 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."
Scottish Sun
02-05-2025
- Health
- Scottish Sun
Ozempic-like fat jabs to be available on NHS at high street pharmacies WITHOUT having to see a GP
Once the deal is signed, Brits could walk into a pharmacy, have a quick check-up, and walk out with a month's supply - all for just £9.90 JAB ALERT Ozempic-like fat jabs to be available on NHS at high street pharmacies WITHOUT having to see a GP BRITS could soon be able to get Ozempic-style fat jabs from high street pharmacies, according to reports. Drugs like Wegovy and Mounjaro will be available over the counter after a short consultation at the cost of an NHS prescription, they claim. Advertisement 2 Pharmacists might soon be able to dish out fat jabs on the NHS Credit: Getty 2 This means drugs like Wegovy might soon be easier to get Credit: Reuters Right now, only a few can get their hands on the powerful jabs – and only after speaking to a doctor and trying other weight-loss methods first. Ministers are planning to massively widen access to the jabs through "creative" routes. This includes rolling them out in high street chemists, health centres and apps, according to the Daily Mail. The shake-up could slash wait times, making it far easier for eligible Brits to get the drug, To get the drug currently, people have to get referred by a GP to a specialist weight loss clinic, with some currently stuck in a two-year queue. Advertisement Once the deal is signed, Brits could walk into a pharmacy, have a quick check-up, and walk out with a month's supply - all for just £9.90, the same as an NHS prescription. That's a lot cheaper than paying £150 a month to get the injections privately, which are currently available from some pharmacies. But experts have called the reports speculative, warning that obesity drugs should only be used under medical supervision and by those who are eligible. A government spokesperson told Sky News: "As the government shifts the NHS from sickness to prevention, we will be looking across the board at how these drugs can be made available to more people who can benefit from them. Advertisement "The NHS is already tackling obesity in innovative ways, including through community care models and digital technologies, to help deliver these drugs as part of a rounded package of care." Earlier estimates from NICE suggest that around 3.4 million people in England could benefit from weight loss injections But last December, NICE said only 220,000 patients would be able to get the jabs on the NHS in the first three years, meaning millions could face waits of up to 12 years for treatment. Julia Hartley-Brewer slams government plan for NHS to offer free 'fat jabs' to tackle obesity crisis The drugs work by mimicking hormones that make you feel full, squashing your appetite so you eat fewer calories and lose weight rapidly. Advertisement In clinical trials, people taking Wegovy lost 15 per cent to 20 per cent of their body weight. They've also been shown to cut the risk of heart attacks and strokes. But experts have warned about serious side effects too, including stomach paralysis, pancreas inflammation, and even vision loss. In February, The Sun revealed that 82 Brits have died after using weight-loss and diabetes jabs such as Ozempic and Mounjaro. The details of why they died were not shared. Advertisement It comes as the World Health Organisation (WHO) prepares to officially endorse weight-loss drugs to tackle obesity in adults for the first time.
Scottish Sun
01-05-2025
- Health
- Scottish Sun
Fat jabs like Ozempic set to get official WHO seal of approval – backing use to treat obesity worldwide
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) FAT jabs like Ozempic are set to get the seal of approval from the World Health Organisation (WHO). This would back the use of slimming injections to help obese adults shed pounds for the first time. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 It marks a change in how global health chiefs are tackling obeisty More than a billion people worldwide now live with obesity, according to the UN organisation. In the UK alone, nearly two-thirds of adults are overweight or obese, with the number of cases continuing to climb. The WHO's jab recommendation for treating the condition will be unveiled in August, as part of new guidelines, according to a memo seen by Reuters today. The guidelines will also feature separate advice for children and teens who suffer from obesity, the global news agency, added. The widely popular drugs, sold under brand names such as Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus, are known as GLP-1 receptor agonists. In the UK, Ozempic and Rybelsus are used on the NHS to treat type 2 diabetes, particularly when other treatments haven't worked. For weight loss, the NHS offers drugs like Wegovy and Saxenda, but these are only available through specialist weight management services, and patients must be referred by their GP. Privately, both Ozempic and Wegovy are available for weight loss, and many people access these treatments through private healthcare providers. This is because they are not routinely offered for obesity on the NHS unless specific criteria are met. GLP-1 drugs mimic hormones that make you feel full, squashing your appetite so you eat fewer calories and lose weight rapidly. Julia Hartley-Brewer slams government plan for NHS to offer free 'fat jabs' to tackle obesity crisis In clinical trials, people lost 15 per cent to 20 per cent of their body weight, depending on the drug. They've also been shown to cut the risk of heart attacks and strokes. But experts have warned about serious side effects too, including stomach paralysis, pancreas inflammation, and even vision loss. In February, The Sun revealed that 82 Brits have died after using weight-loss and diabetes jabs such as Ozempic and Mounjaro. The details of why they died were not shared. Next week, WHO experts will also decide whether to add GLP-1 drugs to their essential medicines list for treating obesity and type 2 diabetes. The list helps ensure life-saving drugs are available in all health systems, particularly in poorer countries, as seen with HIV drugs in 2002. In 2023, health chiefs rejected adding obesity drugs due to a lack of long-term evidence, but now the WHO supports including them following new recommendations. The WHO is concerned about the cost of the drugs and wants more studies on their long-term value, especially in poorer countries. It suggests using methods like tiered pricing or pooled buying to make them more accessible.
The Sun
01-05-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Fat jabs like Ozempic set to get official WHO seal of approval – backing use to treat obesity worldwide
FAT jabs like Ozempic are set to get the seal of approval from The World Health Organisation (WHO). This would back the use of slimming injections to help obese adults shed pounds for the first time. 1 More than a billion people worldwide now live with obesity, according to the UN organisation. In the UK alone, nearly two-thirds of adults are overweight or obese, with the number of cases continuing to climb. The WHO 's jab recommendation for treating the condition will be unveiled in August, as part of new guidelines, according to a memo seen by Reuters today. The guidelines will also feature separate advice for children and teens who suffer from obesity, the global news agency, added. The widely popular drugs, sold under brand names such as Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus, are known as GLP-1 receptor agonists. In the UK, Ozempic and Rybelsus are used on the NHS to treat type 2 diabetes, particularly when other treatments haven't worked. For weight loss, the NHS offers drugs like Wegovy and Saxenda, but these are only available through specialist weight management services, and patients must be referred by their GP. Privately, both Ozempic and Wegovy are available for weight loss, and many people access these treatments through private healthcare providers. This is because they are not routinely offered for obesity on the NHS unless specific criteria are met. GLP-1 drugs mimic hormones that make you feel full, squashing your appetite so you eat fewer calories and lose weight rapidly. Julia Hartley-Brewer slams government plan for NHS to offer free 'fat jabs' to tackle obesity crisis In clinical trials, people lost 15 per cent to 20 per cent of their body weight, depending on the drug. They've also been shown to cut the risk of heart attacks and strokes. But experts have warned about serious side effects too, including stomach paralysis, pancreas inflammation, and even vision loss. In February, The Sun revealed that 82 Brits have died after using weight-loss and diabetes jabs such as Ozempic and Mounjaro. The details of why they died were not shared. Next week, WHO experts will also decide whether to add GLP-1 drugs to their essential medicines list for treating obesity and type 2 diabetes. The list helps ensure life-saving drugs are available in all health systems, particularly in poorer countries, as seen with HIV drugs in 2002. In 2023, health chiefs rejected adding obesity drugs due to a lack of long-term evidence, but now the WHO supports including them following new recommendations. The WHO is concerned about the cost of the drugs and wants more studies on their long-term value, especially in poorer countries. It suggests using methods like tiered pricing or pooled buying to make them more accessible. Everything you need to know about fat jabs Weight loss jabs are a hot media topic at the moment, with hundreds of success stories from people who shed the pounds. In March 2023, the NHS announced it would make Wegovy, a drug made by Danish firm Novo Nordisk, available on prescription to thousands of obese Brits. It contains the drug semaglutide, which is said to have helped reality star Kim Kardashian and Twitter boss Elon Musk lose weight. Wegovy, which helped a third of people reduce their weight by 20 per cent in trials, is now available from pharmacies like Boots. How do they work? The jabs work by suppressing your appetite, making you eat less and therefore lose weight. To do this, semaglutide mimics the role of a natural hormone, called GLP-1. GLP-1 is part of the signalling pathway that tells your body you have eaten, and prepares it to use the energy that comes from your food. London GP and founder of Dr Zoe Watson, said: 'Your body naturally produces an appetite regulating hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1. 'These jabs work by regulating your appetite, which can lead to eating fewer calories and losing weight.' Aren't they diabetes drugs? Semaglutide, the active drug in Wegovy, was originally sold under the name Ozempic specifically for diabetes patients. But people started noticing it helped suppress their appetites, stopping them eating as much and helping them shed the pounds. Novo Nordisk then developed Wegovy, which contains the same chemical but at higher doses specifically to aid weight loss. Wegovy is not prescribed for diabetes patients. Can I get them? Wegovy is offered on prescription to obese adults given specialist weight loss treatment. The NHS currently also offers a similar drug called Saxenda, or liraglutide. Both are only available throught specialist weight management services, which means you have to be referred to clinics led by experts. GPs can't prescribe them on their own, Dr Watson said. The jabs have to be taken as part of an overall programme to help with lifestyle changes and psychological support to get the best effect from the medication prescribed. Are there any risks? Like all medicines, the jabs do not come without side effects. Around half of people taking the drug experience gut issues, including sickness, bloating, acid reflux, constipation and diarrhoea. Dr Sarah Jarvis, GP and clinical consultant at said: 'One of the more uncommon side effects is severe acute pancreatitis, which is extremely painful and happens to one in 500 people.' Other uncommon side effects include altered taste, kidney problems, allergic reactions, gallbladder problems and hypoglycemia. What other options are there? Mounjaro (brand name for tirzepatide) also came onto the market in early 2024. Like Wegovy, tirzepatide stems from a drug originally designed to treat diabetes. The weekly injection helped overweight people drop more than two stone in 18 months. It is available with to order with a prescription online from pharmacies including Superdrug and LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor. It works in a similar way to Wegovy and Saxenda, but is more effective. Dr Mitra Dutt from LloydsPharmacy says: 'Based on clinical trials, 96 per cent of people were able to lose more than five per cent of their body fat using Mounjaro. In similar trials, 84 per cent of people lost more than five per cent of their body weight on Wegovy, and 60 per cent on Saxenda. 'Mounjaro works by activating two hormonal receptors (GIP and GLP-1), which enhance insulin production, improve insulin sensitivity, and work to decrease food intake."
