Approved weight-loss drug contributed to the death of a British nurse, report says

A weight-loss drug recently approved for use by the NHS has contributed to the death of a 58-year-old nurse from North Lanarkshire, according to a report.

Susan McGowan took two low-dose injections of tirzepatide, branded Mounjaro, for a fortnight before she died on September 4. the BBC reported.

Her death certificate, seen by the broadcaster, lists multiple organ failure, septic shock and pancreatitis as the immediate cause of death – but “the use of prescribed tirzepatide” is also recorded as a contributing factor.

McGowan worked as a nurse at Monklands University Hospital in Airdrie for more than 30 years.

According to the BBC, McGowan purchased a Mounjaro prescription through an online pharmacy after researching the drug and seeking medical advice.

The drug costs £150-£200 for a four-week supply and can be purchased from any registered pharmacy in Britain.

McGowan suffered severe stomach pain and nausea after her second injection, so she went to A&E at Monklands, where colleagues tried to save her.

Mounjaro-based manufacturer Lilly said patient safety is the company’s top priority.

A spokesperson told the BBC: “We are committed to continuously monitoring, evaluating and reporting safety information for all Lilly medicines.

“Mounjaro was approved based on a comprehensive assessment of the medicine’s benefits and risks, and we provide information on the benefits and risks of all our medicines to regulators around the world to ensure the latest information is available to prescribers.”

Tirzepatide was approved for use as a weight loss aid in the United Kingdom in 2023 by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.

Dr. Alison Cave, chief safety officer of the MHRA, told the BBC: “Our sincere condolences go out to the family of the person involved. Patient safety is our top priority and no drug would be approved unless it meets our expected standards for safety, quality and effectiveness.

“We have robust safety monitoring and surveillance systems in place for all healthcare products. Based on current evidence, the benefits of GLP-1 RAs (the class of drugs to which Mounjaro also belongs) outweigh the potential risks when used for their licensed indications.”

Ministers recently announced plans to potentially roll out tirzepatide to the unemployed to help them get back to work. It is working with Lilly to run a five-year trial in Greater Manchester, where 3,000 people are expected to receive the jab.

McGowan’s niece Jade Campbell, who was with her when she died, told the BBC she believed it was not the right time for the trial and hoped the British government would reconsider the decision.