Brazil's National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) has noted a concerning increase in reports of suspected cases of pancreatitis tied to the use of weight loss pens over a period spanning from 2020 to 2025, totaling six suspected fatalities. This information was revealed by G1 and confirmed by Folha, shedding light on potential health risks associated with these weight-loss medications.

The medications in question include GLP-1 receptor agonists, commonly prescribed for managing diabetes and obesity, such as semaglutide, liraglutide, lixisenatide, tirzepatide, and dulaglutide. Anvisa reported that between January 1, 2020, and December 7, 2025, there were at least 145 notifications of suspected pancreatitis cases linked to these weight loss pens, indicating a troubling trend in adverse drug events within Brazil, as monitored by the VigiMed system dedicated to tracking medication-related complications.

Initial reports from 2020 documented just one suspected case, but that number progressively escalated to 21 in 2021 and 23 in 2022. In the following years, notifications continued to rise, reaching 27 in 2023 and increasing to 28 in 2024. This upward trend in reported cases raises significant concerns about the safety and efficacy of weight reduction medications and highlights the need for further investigation into their side effects and impacts on patient health.