For the first time, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended the use of popular weight loss drugs to treat both diabetes and obesity, calling for urgent steps to make low-cost generic versions available in developing countries.
The WHO confirmed that semaglutide (marketed as Ozempic and Wegovy) and tirzepatide (sold as Mounjaro) have been added to its Essential Medicines List for adults. These GLP-1 receptor agonists work by reducing appetite and improving blood sugar control.
Although originally developed for diabetes, clinical studies show the drugs also contribute to significant weight loss. Research has even linked them to reduced risks of heart disease and hospitalisation.
According to WHO data, more than 3.7 million people died from obesity- or overweight-related conditions in 2021 — a toll higher than the combined global deaths from malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV. With one in eight people now obese and over 800 million living with diabetes in 2022, the burden of these diseases continues to rise.
High costs block access in poorer countries
In countries like the United States, monthly treatment costs can exceed $1,000, fuelling concerns that patients in low- and middle-income nations will be excluded from access.
To counter this, WHO has urged pharmaceutical companies and regulators to ensure rapid production of generic versions. Experts believe that once patents expire next year in markets such as India, China, and Canada, local manufacturers could produce the medicines for as little as $4 per month.
More than just weight loss
Beyond diabetes and obesity, early research indicates these drugs may aid in treating conditions like addiction. A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) found that patients with heart disease taking GLP-1 drugs had a 40% lower risk of hospitalisation or premature death.
Alongside weight loss medicines, WHO also added several cancer treatments to its Essential Medicines List this year, in an effort to expand access to life-saving therapies worldwide.
