WHO Adds Obesity Drugs to the Global List of Essential Medicines
In an unprecedented move, the World Health Organization (WHO) has called for the inclusion of a group of weight-loss drugs—proven effective in treating obesity and diabetes—on the list of essential therapies available worldwide. The organization stressed the need to make generic versions of these drugs available at low cost in low-income countries.
These treatments belong to the new generation of appetite suppressants known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, including Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro, which have gained wide popularity for their ability to achieve significant weight reduction.
According to WHO statistics, more than 3.7 million people worldwide died in 2021 from diseases linked to excess weight—a number higher than the death toll from major infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria.
Despite the major health benefits of these treatments, their high cost—some exceeding $1,000 per month in the United States—raises concerns about accessibility for populations in poorer countries.
In a statement issued Friday, the WHO added semaglutide (the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy, developed by Denmark’s Novo Nordisk) and tirzepatide (used in Mounjaro, produced by U.S.-based Eli Lilly) to its list of essential medicines for adults worldwide.
The organization explained that this step aims to encourage the large-scale manufacturing of generic versions, which could significantly reduce prices and expand access to these treatments.
Andrew Hill, a pharmacology researcher at the University of Liverpool, pointed to studies showing that generic semaglutide could be manufactured in India at a cost of no more than $4 per month.
In a statement to AFP, Hill added: “We urge Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly to act responsibly and make these medicines widely available worldwide at affordable prices, as is the case with generic drugs.”
The patent for semaglutide is expected to expire next year in several countries, including China, India, and Canada, potentially paving the way for broader production of generics and a major reduction in prices.
