Overview

• MHRA data show 181 pancreatitis reports tied to tirzepatide and 113 linked to semaglutide, with ten fatalities recorded across GLP-1 therapies.
• Regulators have kept prescribing thresholds unchanged, stating there is no conclusive proof that the drugs directly cause pancreatitis.
• The Yellow Card Biobank project led by MHRA and Genomics England will recruit patients for saliva sampling and genomic analysis to uncover predisposition markers.
• GPs can now prescribe Mounjaro to patients with a BMI over 40 and multiple obesity-related conditions, with around 220,000 expected to begin treatment over three years.
• An estimated 1.5 million Britons use GLP-1 injections—often privately—and officials warn these medicines can cause gastrointestinal issues and require careful monitoring.