Acute Pancreatitis, Including Fatal Hemorrhagic And Necrotizing Pancreatitis – Death Cases

(Posted by Tom Lamb at Drug Injury Watch)

In October 2025, Rybelsus pancreatitis side effects warnings were added to the Rybelsus “drug label”, and in late January 2026 to the Prescribing Information for RYBELSUS® and OZEMPIC®(semaglutide) tablets document, as seen below:

5 Warnings and Precautions

5.2 Acute Pancreatitis

Acute pancreatitis, including fatal and non-fatal hemorrhagic or necrotizing pancreatitis, has been observed in patients treated with GLP-1 receptor agonists, including semaglutide tablets [see Adverse Reactions (6)]. After initiation of RYBELSUS or OZEMPIC tablets, observe patients carefully for signs and symptoms of acute pancreatitis, which may include persistent or severe abdominal pain (sometimes radiating to the back), and which may or may not be accompanied by nausea or vomiting. If pancreatitis is suspected, discontinue RYBELSUS or OZEMPIC tablets and initiate appropriate management.

As background, Ozempic tablets and Rybelsus are both glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists.

Also relevant to this Ozempic tablets and Rybelsus pancreatitis side effects warnings 2026 update is a Drug Safety Update issued on January 29, 2026, by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), in the United Kingdom (UK). From that 2026 MHRA Drug Safety Update, “GLP-1 receptor agonists and dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonists: strengthened warnings on acute pancreatitis, including necrotising and fatal cases”:

Acute pancreatitis is a recognised side effect with GLP-1 receptor agonists and dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonists. Although the overall frequency remains uncommon, post-marketing experience has shown that some rare reports of acute pancreatitis have been particularly severe, including necrotising and fatal pancreatitis.

In the UK between 2007 and October 2025, the MHRA has received 1,296 Yellow Card reports of pancreatitis (including acute, autoimmune, chronic, haemorrhagic, necrotising, subacute and obstructive forms of pancreatitis) associated with GLP-1 receptor agonists or dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonists. Of these, 19 reports were fatal and 24 were reported as necrotising pancreatitis….

Pancreatitis may be challenging to recognise in its early stages, as initial symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea or vomiting may be attributed to other causes such as common gastrointestinal side effects of GLP-1 and GLP-1/GIP treatment or infection. Clinicians should remain vigilant for the possibility of pancreatitis in patients treated with GLP-1 or GLP-1/GIP receptor agonists and investigate in line with local clinical practice. Advise patients to seek urgent medical attention if they develop severe, persistent abdominal pain that may radiate to the back and may be accompanied by nausea and vomiting.

Insofar as there was no Rybelsus pancreatitis warning until October 2025, there is a possible “failure to warn” products liability claim that could be asserted against Novo Nordisk in a drug injury lawsuit for people who suffered Rybelsus pancreatitis side effects before October 2025.

We are interested in hearing from people who may want to pursue such a Rybelsus pancreatitis drug injury lawsuit, especially the families of patients who developed hemorrhagic pancreatitis or necrotizing pancreatitis resulting in death. Those Rybeslus pancreatitis death cases would be investigated as a possible drug injury lawsuit filed against the responsible pharmaceutical company, Novo Nordisk.

Acute pancreatitis diagnosed after October 2025 for Rybelsus and after January 2026 for Ozempic tablets are less likely to be filed as drug injury lawsuits against Novo Nordisk due to the two drug label changes mentioned above that added the pancreatitis drug side-effect warnings for Rybelsus and Ozempic, respectively, in those months.

If you have any concerns or questions, you can leave a Comment below for consideration by other readers. In the alternative, if you have a possible drug injury lawsuit to be investigated, you can email (TJL@LambLawOffice.com) or call (910-256-2971) me, drug injury Tom Lamb.

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