Less than 10% of patients eligible to benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy can access them, states the WHO as it publishes its initial recommendations on the medications.
Considering over a billion people worldwide now living with obesity, it is calling for broader and more equitable access to these injectable treatments.
Based on projections, more than two billion will be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"The latest guidelines acknowledges that obesity is a chronic disease that can be addressed with thorough and lifelong care," remarked its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are key hurdles to widespread access to the injections that can help people shift substantial body mass, explains the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Even in the present most optimistic outlook, the manufacturing of GLP-1 therapies might only reach around 100 million people – fewer than 10% of those who need them, per the WHO.
The guideline calls on governments and firms to increase availability, by approaches such as licensing agreements.
A patent on semaglutide – the core ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in several countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Injections Operate
GLP-1 drugs replicate a natural hormone to slow digestion, suppress the appetite and boost feelings of fullness so individuals eat less.
People commonly begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of starting on the regular doses.
Research suggests patients may put most of the weight back on within a year of halting the treatment, when their typical hunger return.
Being overweight or obese elevates your risk for experiencing medical conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and specific cancers.
Obesity impacts individuals in countries worldwide and was responsible for millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
