The Brazilian National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) registered 145 suspected cases of pancreatitis associated with the use of medications known as “slimming pens” between January 2020 and December 2025. Of this total, six notifications had a suspected outcome of death reported by the notifiers themselves, according to the agency. The topic has returned to the center of the debate following the increased use of these drugs in the country and recent warnings from health authorities abroad.
The data was originally published by O GLOBO, which obtained the survey from Anvisa (Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency). The agency emphasizes that these are notifications of suspected cases registered in the pharmacovigilance system and that this does not automatically mean proof of a causal relationship between the medication and the cases.
According to the survey, the notifications involve active ingredients such as semaglutide, liraglutide, dulaglutide, and tirrizepatide, used in the treatment of diabetes and obesity. Considering also records from clinical trials, the total reaches 225 notifications in the analyzed period. The data are part of VigiMed, a system used by Anvisa (Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency) to monitor adverse events related to medications in use in the country.
The historical series shows a continuous increase in reported cases. In 2020, there was only one case. In 2021, the number rose to 21; in 2022, there were 23; in 2023, 27; in 2024, 28; and in 2025, there was a jump to 45 reported cases, a 60.7% increase compared to the previous year. For Anvisa (Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency), this increase accompanies the expansion of the use of these medications, including outside of their original indications and, in some cases, in the illegal market.
In response to the newspaper, the agency emphasized caution in interpreting the numbers. “It is important to highlight that the cases refer to notifications of suspected cases reported to Anvisa. We cannot affirm that these are confirmed cases.” Pancreatitis is already listed in the package inserts of these medications as a possible adverse effect, and the risk is monitored by regulatory authorities.
Internationally, the issue has also gained attention. The UK’s health regulatory agency, the MHRA, recently issued a warning about the risk of severe acute pancreatitis in users of obesity and diabetes medications, such as Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro and Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy. Although severe cases are considered rare, the British authority stressed that doctors and patients should be vigilant after identifying particularly severe episodes.
Acute pancreatitis is an inflammatory process of the pancreas caused by the organ’s autodigestion by its own enzymes. The disease can be classified as mild or severe. In mild cases, systemic changes are limited, but in severe forms, organ failure can occur, such as respiratory and renal failure, hypotension, and bleeding, in addition to local complications such as necrosis, abscesses, and pancreatic pseudocysts.
According to experts, symptoms usually begin with diffuse abdominal pain, generally in the upper abdomen, which may radiate to the back and increase in intensity over minutes or hours. The pain usually does not improve with analgesics and is often accompanied by nausea and vomiting. Fever, dehydration, tachycardia, and abdominal tenderness may also occur, as well as purplish spots on the skin in more severe cases.
The causes of pancreatitis are varied and include, in addition to some medications, conditions such as hereditary pancreatitis, hormonal disorders, metabolic alterations, viral infections, vascular diseases, and even surgical procedures. In treatment, the priority is to keep the patient stable, with adequate hydration and control of pain, nausea, and vomiting. In more severe situations, it is necessary to treat complications such as infections, respiratory problems, kidney problems, or low blood pressure, and surgery may be indicated in specific cases.
Novo Nordisk, a leading manufacturer of GLP-1 analog-based medications, sent a note to the 247 portal on February 2, 2026, stating that patient safety is a priority and that the company takes “very seriously all reports of adverse events associated with the use of its medications.” In the statement, the company reminds readers that there is “a class warning for all incretin-based therapies” regarding the risk of pancreatitis and that acute pancreatitis is listed as an adverse reaction in the package inserts of products such as Ozempic®, Rybelsus®, Wegovy®, Victoza®, and Saxenda®.
The company also advises that patients be informed about the characteristic symptoms and that they discontinue treatment if pancreatitis is suspected, in addition to recommending caution in people with a history of the disease. According to the statement, “the frequency and proportion of participants who presented with confirmed pancreatitis were similar between semaglutide and the comparator in the phase 3 clinical programs (SUSTAIN, PIONEER, STEP),” and most events were classified as mild acute pancreatitis. The company adds that semaglutide has been studied in clinical programs with more than 54,000 patients and that post-marketing exposure exceeds 33 million patient-years, with continuous monitoring in collaboration with regulatory authorities.
According to Anvisa (Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency), this scenario reinforces the importance of responsible prescribing and regular medical follow-up, especially given the popularization of these medications beyond their original indications. While investigations and monitoring continue, experts and health authorities emphasize that any symptom suggestive of pancreatitis should be evaluated quickly, and that reporting adverse events is essential to improve the safety of these treatments.
Source: brasil247.com