The Brazilian National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) has disclosed that it received 65 notifications of suspected deaths connected to weight loss medications colloquially referred to as 'pens' from December 1, 2018, to December 7, 2025. This period also saw the Vigimed system, an official pharmacovigilance database, registering a total of 2,436 notifications concerning adverse events related to active ingredients such as semaglutide, liraglutide, dulaglutide, and tirzepatide. It's important to note that the notification records do not imply causation between the medication and the reported fatalities.

Anvisa emphasized that a single notification might encompass multiple adverse events and outcomes. Establishing a causal relationship requires a thorough clinical and scientific assessment that takes into account factors such as the patient's health status, the concurrent use of other medications, the quality and completeness of the information provided, and the regulatory standing of the product used. Therefore, while the notifications are significant, they reflect the need for further investigation rather than direct attribution of blame to the medications.

This information comes at a critical time as weight loss therapies gain popularity, raising concerns about their safety and efficacy. The rise in notifications of adverse events linked to these treatments highlights the importance of monitoring and regulating new medical products to safeguard public health. The situation underscores the necessity of informed medical guidance for patients using these medications, ensuring that they are aware of potential risks and the type of monitoring that may be required during treatment.