Fewer than 10% of patients that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy can access them, states the global health agency as it releases its first advice on the drugs.
Considering over a billion individuals worldwide currently obese, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer access to GLP-1 medication.
According to estimates, in excess of 2,000,000,000 could be obese by 2030 without intervention.
"Our new guidance affirms that excess weight is a long-term condition that can be treated with comprehensive and continuous support," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, insufficient output, and distribution challenges are key barriers to universal access to the injections that can help people shift substantial weight, notes the organization.
GLP-1 Therapy Scarcity
Despite the current best projected scenario, the production of these medications would only suffice for about 100 million people – under 10% of those who need them, as stated by the WHO.
The recommendation encourages nations and manufacturers to expand access, through approaches such as licensing agreements.
The intellectual property rights on the active ingredient – the main component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is scheduled to end in several countries in 2026.
The Way Obesity Drugs Operate
GLP-1 drugs replicate a biological compound to reduce digestion speed, reduce hunger and enhance feelings of fullness so users eat less.
Patients commonly start to lose weight in the initial weeks of starting on the regular doses.
Studies indicates patients may regain a significant portion after a year of stopping the treatment, when their normal appetite come back.
Being overweight or obese increases your risk for contracting diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular issues, brain attack, and specific malignancies.
Excess weight impacts individuals in countries worldwide and was linked to over three and a half million deaths worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
