Under a tenth of people that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy are able to get them, caution the World Health Organization as it releases its initial recommendations on the drugs.
Considering in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide now classified as obese, it is advocating for broader and more equitable availability to GLP-1 medication.
Per estimates, in excess of 2,000,000,000 are projected to be obese by 2030 without intervention.
"The latest guidelines acknowledges that obesity is a chronic disease that can be addressed with comprehensive and ongoing care," stated its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and logistical bottlenecks are significant barriers to widespread availability to the injections that can help people shift substantial weight, explains the agency.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Even under the present best projected case, the manufacturing of GLP-1 therapies might only reach around 100 million people – under 10% of those who need them, as stated by the WHO.
The guideline urges countries and companies to expand availability, by measures like patent sharing.
The intellectual property rights on a key compound – the core ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is due to expire in several countries in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Injections Work
The injections replicate a natural hormone to delay gastric emptying, curb appetite and enhance the sense of being full so users reduce food intake.
People commonly see weight reduction after several weeks of commencing the weekly injections.
Evidence indicates patients may regain a significant portion a year later of discontinuing the medication, as their normal hunger resume.
Being overweight or obese raises your risk for contracting medical conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some malignancies.
Excess weight concerns individuals in every country and was associated with 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the health agency.
