The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)
has today (29 January 2026) updated product
information for healthcare professionals and
patients regarding the small risk
of severe acute pancreatitis in
patients taking Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 receptor
agonists or dual GLP-1/ glucose-dependent
insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptor agonists, commonly
known as GLP-1s.
Acute pancreatitis is a known, but infrequent side
effect of taking GLP-1s. In some extremely
rare cases the complications of acute pancreatitis can
be particularly severe. Clinicians and patients
are reminded to be alert to initial symptoms such
as severe, persistent stomach pain that may
radiate to the back and may be accompanied by nausea and
vomiting
GLP-1s are prescribed for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and,
for some products, weight
management, and cardiovascular risk
reduction in individuals with established
cardiovascular disease and a BMI of 27 kg/m2 or
more. Research recently published by University
College Londonestimates that 1.6 million adults in England,
Wales and Scotland used GLP-1s, such as semaglutide
(Wegovy, Ozempic) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro), between early
2024 and early 2025, to lose weight.
While GLP-1s are generally considered safe and
effective for their authorised uses, like all
medications they are not without
risk. Those taking GLP-1s should be aware of the
symptoms of severe pancreatitis and seek urgent
medical attention if they experience them.
Alison Cave, MHRA's Chief Safety
Officer said:
“Patient safety is the MHRA's top priority and we
continually monitor the safety and efficacy of all
licensed medicines. For the vast majority
of patients who are prescribed GLP-1s,
they are safe and effective medicines which deliver
significant health benefits.
“The risk of developing these severe side effects
is very small, but it is important
that patients and healthcare
professionals are aware and alert to the
associated symptoms.
“If you, or someone you care for, is
taking GLP-1s and you notice symptoms such
as severe, persistent stomach pain that may
radiate to the back and may be accompanied
by nausea and vomiting, then we advise
you speak to a healthcare professional and report it
via our Yellow Card
scheme.”
The Yellow Card
Biobank, a collaboration between the
MHRA and Genomics
England, has recruited patients taking GLP-1s to
investigate whether the risk of an inflamed
pancreas may be influenced by an individual's genes. It
is hoped this will help to predict which patients may be most at
risk of adverse reactions and prescribe the safest medicines
accordingly.
Guidance on potential side effects of GLP-1s, and on
the safe and effective use of GLP-1s, is
available on the website.
Notes to editors
-
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
(MHRA) is responsible for regulating all medicines
and medical devices in the UK by ensuring they work and are
acceptably safe. All our work is underpinned by robust and
fact-based judgements to ensure that the benefits justify any
risks.
-
The MHRA is an executive agency of the Department of Health
and Social Care.
-
We have today published a Drug Safety
Update for healthcare professionals to alert
them to the risk of severe cases of acute
pancreatitis
-
In the UK between 2007 and October 2025, the MHRA has
received 1,296 YellowCard reports of pancreatitis
associated with GLP-1 receptor agonists.
-
Further information on the University College London research
can be found here: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2026/jan/16-million-uk-adults-used-weight-loss-drugs-past-year
-
The Yellow
Card Biobank is a collaboration between
the Medicines and
Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)
and Genomics
England. The Biobank has recruited participants taking
GLP-1 medicines to investigate whether the risk of acute
pancreatitis (inflamed pancreas) may be influenced by an
individual's genes. We hope that 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.
-
Suspected side effects or adverse drug reactions to any
medicines should be reported to the MHRA Yellow Card scheme,
either through the website (https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk)
or by searching the Google Play or Apple App stores for MHRA
Yellow Card.
