Overview
- FOI data show 133 suspected hospital-treated reactions in the first 11 months of 2025 versus 83 in all of 2024, with three deaths reported and 106 cases classed as serious.
- Health minister Dr Zubir Ahmed warned against buying unlicensed injections from rogue online sellers, citing contamination, incorrect dosing and life‑threatening risks.
- High demand meets limited NHS capacity, with prescriptions restricted to strict criteria and an estimated 1.5 million people purchasing weight‑loss injections privately last year.
- Regulators are expected to rule in the coming months on orforglipron, a daily GLP‑1 pill from Eli Lilly reported to deliver about 12% average weight loss in trials.
- Known side effects range from nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea to pancreatitis, gallstones and fractures, and pharmacy leaders call for tighter regulation to curb harm.