Less than 10% of patients that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy have access to them, states the WHO as it issues its inaugural guidance on the medications.
With in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide currently obese, it is calling for broader and more equitable access to this class of drugs.
Based on forecasts, in excess of 2,000,000,000 could be obese by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The new guidance recognises that obesity is a long-term condition that can be addressed with comprehensive and continuous care," remarked its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, limited production capacity, and distribution challenges are major barriers to widespread availability to the treatments that can aid individuals in losing considerable weight, says the organization.
Weight-Loss Drug Scarcity
Even under the current best projected case, the supply of GLP-1 therapies might only reach around 100 million people – less than 10% of eligible patients, per the health organization.
The recommendation encourages governments and firms to expand access, via measures including licensing agreements.
The intellectual property rights on semaglutide – the core component of the drug Wegovy – is scheduled to end in several countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Injections Function
These medications replicate a biological compound to delay gastric emptying, curb appetite and increase feelings of fullness so people consume fewer calories.
Patients typically start to lose weight within a few weeks of commencing the weekly injections.
Research indicates patients may see weight return a year later of discontinuing the treatment, when their typical appetite come back.
To be above a healthy weight elevates your risk for contracting diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and specific malignancies.
Obesity concerns people in countries worldwide and was associated with millions of deaths worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
