Less than 10% of patients that would benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy have access to them, caution the World Health Organization as it issues its inaugural recommendations on the drugs.
With in excess of 1,000,000,000 people worldwide currently obese, it is advocating for more widespread and fairer availability to this class of drugs.
Per projections, more than two billion are projected to be living with obesity by 2030 if no action is taken.
"Our latest guidelines affirms that obesity is a lifelong illness that can be treated with comprehensive and continuous care," remarked its chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Significant expense, insufficient output, and logistical bottlenecks are significant obstacles to broad access to the injections that can help people shift substantial weight, says the agency.
Weight-Loss Drug Supply Crisis
Even under the current best projected case, the manufacturing of GLP-1 therapies would only suffice for about 100 million people – less than 10% of eligible patients, according to the health organization.
The advice urges governments and firms to widen access, via strategies including patent sharing.
Exclusive production rights on the active ingredient – the main ingredient of a leading brand – is scheduled to end in a number of nations in 2026.
The Way Weight-Loss Drugs Function
GLP-1 drugs mimick a body's own hormone to reduce digestion speed, suppress the appetite and enhance the sense of being full so users eat less.
Individuals commonly begin shedding pounds after several weeks of starting on the once-weekly jabs.
Studies indicates patients may regain a significant portion after a year of discontinuing the drug, when their normal hunger return.
Being carrying excess weight raises your chance for contracting health problems, such as diabetes, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and some malignancies.
Excess weight impacts individuals in countries worldwide and was associated with millions of fatalities worldwide in 2024, per the health agency.
