A weight-loss drug recently approved for NHS use has been linked to the death of a 58-year-old nurse in North Lanarkshire, according to a report. Susan McGowan took two low-dose injections of tirzepatide, sold under the brand Mounjaro, before she died on 4 September.
Her death certificate lists multiple organ failure, septic shock and pancreatitis as the immediate cause of death, but notes 'the use of prescribed tirzepatide' as a contributing factor. McGowan, a nurse at University Hospital Monklands for over 30 years, bought the drug via an online pharmacy after research and medical advice.
The drug costs £150-£200 for a four-week supply and is available from registered UK pharmacies. After her second injection, McGowan experienced severe stomach pains and sickness, leading her to accident and emergency at Monklands, where colleagues attempted to save her.
Manufacturer Lilly stated patient safety is its top priority, noting the drug was approved based on extensive benefit-risk assessment. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) approved tirzepatide for weight loss in 2023. Chief safety officer Dr Alison Cave expressed sympathies and affirmed the benefits of GLP-1 RAs outweigh risks for licensed indications.
Ministers recently announced plans to trial tirzepatide for unemployed people in Greater Manchester, with 3,000 participants expected. McGowan's niece Jade Campbell urged the government to reconsider, saying the trial is not appropriate at this time.
