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The World Well being Group beneficial a variety of blockbuster weight-loss medicine to deal with diabetes and weight problems globally for the primary time on Friday, calling for affordable generic variations to be made out there for folks in growing international locations.
The brand new era of appetite-suppressing medicine known as GLP-1 agonists—which embody the manufacturers Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro—have exploded in reputation on account of their potential to assist folks considerably drop pounds.
Greater than 3.7 million folks died from diseases associated to being obese or overweight in 2021 in accordance with WHO figures—greater than high infectious killers malaria, tuberculosis and HIV mixed.
Nevertheless the sky-high costs of GLP-1 medicine, which might value over $1,000 a month in america, have raised considerations they won’t be made out there in poorer nations the place they might save essentially the most lives.
On Friday, the WHO added semaglutide—the lively ingredient in Danish pharma big Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic and Wegovy—and the tirzepatide utilized in US firm Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro to its listing of important medicines for adults worldwide.
To make sure these “life-saving” injectable medicine attain individuals who want them most, the UN company stated in a press release it inspired “generic competition to drive down prices.”
Andrew Hill, a pharmacology researcher at Liverpool College, pointed to analysis exhibiting that generic semaglutide may very well be mass produced in India for as little as $4 a month.
“What we’re asking is for Novartis and Eli Lilly to do the responsible thing and make their treatments available on a worldwide scale at an affordable, generic price,” he informed AFP.
The patent for semaglutide will run out in some international locations together with Canada, India and China subsequent 12 months, which may additionally end in a surge in generic manufacturing.
GLP-1 medicine, which have some unwanted effects together with nausea, have been initially developed for diabetes, however analysis has more and more urged they might assist with a broad vary of well being issues together with dependancy.
A examine revealed within the JAMA medical journal this week discovered that sufferers with coronary heart issues taking the medicine had greater than a 40% decrease threat of being hospitalized or dying prematurely.
One in eight folks worldwide are actually overweight, whereas in 2022 greater than 800 million folks have been dwelling with diabetes, in accordance with the WHO.
The WHO additionally named a variety of most cancers medicine to its important medicines listing.
© 2025 AFP
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WHO backs weight-loss medicine, urges low-cost generics (2025, September 5)
retrieved 5 September 2025
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