Hundreds of people are experiencing pancreas issues after taking weight loss and diabetes injections.
The GLP-1 medications have also been linked to several fatal cases of pancreatitis.
The results came to light after the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency (MHRA) – which monitors adverse reactions to drugs – saw an increase in acute pancreatitis reports.
According to the patient information leaflets for the injection medications, pancreatitis is an “uncommon” side effect, affecting one in 100 individuals.
However, to date, nearly 400 reports of acute pancreatitis have come in from those using GLP-1 drugs including Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and liraglutide.
Over 25 percent of these cases were reported this year. Since January, there have been 22 reports of acute pancreatitis after taking Wegovy and Ozempic, both of which contain the drug semaglutide, and 101 after taking Mounjaro, the brand name for tirzepatide.
Given the potential consequences of the condition, experts are now delving deeper to see if any genetic factors are at play.
The MHRA is encouraging anyone who has experienced acute pancreatitis while taking those medications to take part in a study, where they will be asked to provide a saliva sample, which will be analyzed at a lab.
While there’s no known genetic link that predisposes an individual to acute pancreatitis while taking these drugs, certain genes can increase the chance of adverse effects when taking medications.
According to recent studies, side effects to drugs make up approximately 17% of all hospital admissions.
The MHRA’s chief safety officer Dr Alison Cave said evidence shows that nearly one third of adverse reactions to drugs could be prevented with genetic testing.
In the UK alone, these reactions cost over £2.2 billion in hospital stays a year.
A spokesperson for Novo Nordisk UK, the manufacturer of Wegovy and Ozempic, said that “patient safety is the company’s top priority” and emphasized that the medications should only be used for approved purposes under a doctor’s supervision.
They also stressed that they work closely with health authorities to “ensure patient safety” and that the benefit-risk profile of their medications remains positive.
At the same time, they said they “welcome new research” that could enhance understanding and treatment options for people living with lifelong conditions.
