Company behind recently approved NHS weight loss jab linked to death of 58-year-old issues statement following incident

The company who manufactures a weight loss drug recently approved for use on the NHS has issued a statement following the death of a Scottish nurse.

North Lanarkshire nurse Susan McGowan had tragically passed away on 4 September from organ failure, septic shock and pancreatitis.

However a new report published by the BBC has since revealed the drug tirzepatide has been listed as a contributing factor on her death certificate.

It is understood the 58-year-old had begun a course of the drug two weeks prior to her death for weight loss purposes.

She is now the first person in the UK whose death has officially been linked to the rising trend of weight loss jabs.

What is tirzepatide?

Approved for use on the NHS last year and manufactured by pharmaceutical firm Eli Lilly, tirzepatide - also known under brand name Mounjaro - and was initially developed for adults with type 2 diabetes.

The drug works by mimicking hormones which make people feel full after eating; with the idea that a reduced appetite will allow patients to shed the pounds.

Following the drug's approval, a spokesperson for the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) had stated: "We are pleased to confirm that we have authorised Mounjaro (tirzepatide) – a new class of treatment for adults with insufficiently controlled type 2 diabetes.

"No medicine would be approved unless it meets our expected standards of safety, quality and effectiveness."

Tirzepatide is similar to the more well-known drug Ozempic, however the two medicines differ when it comes to the number of hormones they mimic.

A four week supply of tirzepatide can typically cost around £150 to £200.

It is understood that Susan had administered two low-dose injections of the drug in the weeks leading up to her death and had begun to experience severe stomach pains and sickness after the second dose.

Over the following days her condition would deteriorate, with the nurse later slipping into a coma and passing away.

What has Eli Lilly said about the case?

Following the report of tirzepatide being linked to Susan's death, a spokesperson for Eli Lilly told LADbible Group that 'patient safety is their top priority'.

"We are committed to continually monitoring, evaluating, and reporting safety information for all Lilly medicines," the pharmaceutical company said in a statement.

"Mounjaro (tirzepatide) was approved based on extensive assessment of the benefits and risks of the medicine, and we provide information about the benefits and risks of all our medicines to regulators around the world to ensure the latest information is available for prescribers.

"If anyone is experiencing side effects when taking any Lilly medicine, they should talk to their doctor or other healthcare professional."