The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has\u00a0today (29\u00a0January 2026)\u00a0updated\u00a0product information\u00a0for\u00a0\u00a0healthcare professionals\u00a0and patients\u00a0regarding\u00a0\u00a0the small risk of\u00a0severe\u00a0acute pancreatitis\u00a0in patients\u00a0taking\u00a0Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 receptor agonists\u00a0or\u00a0dual GLP-1\/ glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptor agonists, commonly known as GLP-1s.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Acute pancreatitis is a\u00a0known, but\u00a0infrequent\u00a0side effect of\u00a0taking\u00a0GLP-1s. In\u00a0some\u00a0extremely rare cases\u00a0the complications of acute pancreatitis\u00a0can be\u00a0particularly\u00a0severe.\u00a0Clinicians and patients are\u00a0reminded\u00a0to be alert to initial symptoms such as\u00a0severe, persistent\u00a0stomach\u00a0pain that may radiate to the back and may be accompanied by nausea and vomiting\u00a0<\/p>\n
GLP-1s are prescribed for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and, for some products, weight management,\u00a0and\u00a0cardiovascular risk reduction\u00a0in\u00a0individuals with established cardiovascular disease and a BMI of 27 kg\/m2 or more.\u00a0Research recently published by University College London<\/a> estimates that 1.6 million adults in England, Wales and Scotland used GLP-1s,\u00a0such as\u00a0semaglutide (Wegovy, Ozempic) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro),\u00a0between early 2024 and early 2025,\u00a0to\u00a0lose weight.\u00a0<\/p>\n While GLP-1s are\u00a0generally considered\u00a0safe and effective for\u00a0their authorised uses,\u00a0like all medications\u00a0they\u00a0are not without risk.\u00a0Those\u00a0taking GLP-1s should be aware of the symptoms of\u00a0severe\u00a0pancreatitis\u00a0and seek urgent medical attention if they experience them.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Alison Cave,\u00a0MHRA\u2019s Chief Safety Officer\u00a0said:\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cPatient safety is\u00a0the\u00a0MHRA\u2019s top priority\u00a0and we continually\u00a0monitor\u00a0the safety and efficacy of\u00a0all licensed medicines.\u00a0For\u00a0the\u00a0vast\u00a0majority of\u00a0patients\u00a0who are prescribed\u00a0GLP-1s, they\u00a0are safe and effective medicines which\u00a0deliver significant health benefits.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThe risk of\u00a0developing these severe side effects is\u00a0very small,\u00a0but\u00a0it is important that\u00a0patients and healthcare professionals\u00a0are\u00a0aware and alert\u00a0to the associated symptoms.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIf you, or someone you care for, is taking\u00a0GLP-1s\u00a0and\u00a0you notice symptoms such as\u00a0severe, persistent\u00a0stomach\u00a0pain\u00a0that may radiate to the back and may be accompanied by\u00a0nausea\u00a0and\u00a0vomiting,\u00a0then\u00a0we advise you\u00a0speak to a healthcare professional\u00a0and report it via our\u00a0Yellow Card scheme<\/a>.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n The\u00a0Yellow Card Biobank<\/a>, a collaboration between the MHRA\u00a0and\u00a0Genomics England<\/a>,\u00a0has recruited patients taking GLP-1s\u00a0to investigate whether the risk of\u00a0an inflamed pancreas\u00a0may be influenced by an individual\u2019s genes.\u00a0It is hoped this will help to predict which patients may be most at risk of adverse reactions and prescribe the safest medicines accordingly.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Guidance\u00a0on potential side effects of GLP-1s,\u00a0and on the safe and effective use of GLP-1s,\u00a0is available\u00a0on the website<\/a>.<\/p>\n Notes to editors<\/p>\n The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)\u00a0is responsible for\u00a0regulating all medicines and medical devices in the UK by ensuring they work and are acceptably safe.\u202f All our work is underpinned by robust and fact-based judgements to ensure that the benefits justify any risks.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n The MHRA is an executive agency of the Department of Health and Social Care.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u202fWe have today published a Drug Safety Update<\/a>\u00a0for healthcare professionals\u00a0to alert them to the risk of severe cases of\u00a0acute pancreatitis\u00a0<\/p>\n In the UK between 2007 and October 2025, the MHRA has received 1,296\u00a0YellowCard\u00a0reports of pancreatitis associated with GLP-1 receptor agonists.\u00a0<\/p>\n Further information on the University College London research can be found here: \u00a0https:\/\/www.ucl.ac.uk\/news\/2026\/jan\/16-million-uk-adults-used-weight-loss-drugs-past-year<\/a><\/p>\n The\u00a0Yellow Card Biobank<\/a>\u00a0is a collaboration between the\u00a0Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency<\/a>\u00a0(MHRA) and\u00a0Genomics England<\/a>. 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\u2019s 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.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n 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<\/a>) or by searching the Google Play or Apple App stores for MHRA Yellow Card.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n