The number of Britons who have died after using weight-loss and diabetes drugs such as Ozempic and Mounjaro has risen to 82, according to official figures.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) confirmed the toll up to the end of January, raising fresh concerns over the safety of the jabs.
The data shows that 22 people died after using the medication for weight loss, while another 60 fatalities were linked to its use in treating type 2 diabetes. Alison Cave, chief safety officer at the MHRA, urged caution: “The decision to start, continue or stop treatments should be made jointly by patients and their doctor, based on full consideration of benefits and risks.”
• Weight-loss jabs fuel surge in demand for online pharmacies
Weight-loss injections such as Mounjaro and Ozempic have surged in popularity, with an estimated 500,000 Britons taking them. Many are losing up to 22.5 per cent of their weight in the first 18 months. The NHS is preparing to provide Mounjaro for severely obese patients.
Wegovy — a higher-dose formulation of Ozempic, originally developed to treat diabetes — was introduced on the NHS in September last year. However, access is limited to specialist weight-loss clinics in select areas of England.
About 4.1 million people meet the NHS criteria for Wegovy, which requires a body mass index over 35 and associated health conditions. The private market sets a lower threshold of 30, making the injections available to about 15 million adults.
The MHRA figures show that 18 deaths were explicitly linked to Mounjaro, while 29 occurred following the use of Ozempic, Rybelsus, or Wegovy, all of which contain the active ingredient semaglutide. Another 35 fatalities were associated with Saxenda and Victoza, which contain liraglutide, The Sun reported.
Susan McGowan, 58, a Scottish nurse, died last year after taking two low-dose injections of Mounjaro over a fortnight. Investigations have also revealed that nearly 400 people have been admitted to hospital after taking weight-loss drugs.
The NHS website warns: “Never take an anti-obesity medicine if it has not been prescribed to you. These types of medicines may not be safe for you and can cause serious side effects.”
Semaglutide has been hailed as a breakthrough drug, with studies showing it can help reduce alcohol cravings and even slow markers of ageing. One study involving two million people linked it to better heart health, fewer infections, a lower risk of drug abuse and fewer cases of dementia.
Lilly UK, the manufacturer of Mounjaro, said patient safety was its “top priority.” It added: “Lilly is committed to continually monitoring, evaluating, and reporting safety data.”
