UK regulator reports 216 suspected deaths linked to weight loss injections

The UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has recorded 216 reported deaths and over 158,000 suspected adverse reactions related to GLP-1 drugs used for weight loss and diabetes treatment.

Data collected via the Yellow Card reporting system includes three active substances: tirzepatide (Mounjaro), semaglutide (Wegovy, Ozempic, and Rybelsus), and liraglutide (Saxenda). Tirzepatide accounted for the highest number of reports, with 106,189 suspected adverse reactions and 120 reported deaths. Semaglutide was linked to 48,089 suspected reactions and 59 deaths, while liraglutide was associated with 4,491 suspected reactions and 37 deaths.

The MHRA emphasized that these reports do not prove a causal link between the medications and the reported deaths or side effects. The system is designed to allow patients, families, and healthcare professionals to report suspected connections for further investigation.