Less than one in 10 individuals eligible to benefit from GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy can access them, caution the global health agency as it releases its initial advice on the therapies.
Given over a billion people worldwide currently living with obesity, it is urging broader and more equitable access to this class of drugs.
Per projections, in excess of 2,000,000,000 will be obese by 2030 unless action is taken.
"The new guidance affirms that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with holistic and ongoing care," said the agency's head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
High costs, constrained manufacturing, and distribution challenges are major obstacles to universal access to the injections that can assist patients in reducing significant body mass, says the agency.
GLP-1 Therapy Supply Crisis
Despite the present most favorable case, the production of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for approximately 100 million people – under 10% of eligible patients, as stated by the health organization.
The recommendation encourages countries and companies to expand access, through strategies like patent sharing.
The intellectual property rights on the active ingredient – the core component of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy – is set to lapse in a number of nations in 2026.
How Weight-Loss Jabs Function
GLP-1 drugs imitate a biological compound to slow digestion, reduce hunger and boost satiety so individuals reduce food intake.
Patients usually begin shedding pounds after several weeks of starting on the regular doses.
Studies points to users may regain a significant portion a year later of stopping the drug, as their usual appetite come back.
Being carrying excess weight elevates your chance for experiencing diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and specific malignancies.
Obesity impacts people in countries worldwide and was associated with over three and a half million fatalities worldwide in 2024, as per the WHO.
