Under 10% of patients eligible to benefit from GLP-1 drugs including Wegovy have access to them, caution the global health agency as it issues its inaugural recommendations on the therapies.
With in excess of 1,000,000,000 individuals worldwide now living with obesity, it is advocating for broader and more equitable availability to GLP-1 medication.
Per projections, more than two billion will be obese by 2030 without intervention.
"The new guidelines affirms that excess weight is a lifelong illness that can be addressed with thorough and ongoing care," remarked WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Substantial prices, limited production capacity, and supply-chain constraints are major obstacles to widespread availability to the injections that can aid individuals in losing considerable weight, explains the agency.
GLP-1 Therapy Shortage
Even under the present most favorable case, the production of GLP-1 therapies could only cover approximately 100 million people – less than 10% of the global need, according to the health organization.
The recommendation encourages governments and firms to increase availability, by strategies including licensing agreements.
Exclusive production rights on semaglutide – the core ingredient of the drug Wegovy – is set to lapse in a number of countries in 2026.
How Obesity Jabs Function
These medications mimick a body's own hormone to reduce digestion speed, curb appetite and boost feelings of fullness so individuals consume fewer calories.
Patients typically begin shedding pounds within a few weeks of starting on the once-weekly jabs.
Studies indicates people may regain a significant portion after a year of halting the medication, because their typical hunger return.
Being overweight or obese elevates your likelihood for experiencing medical conditions, like diabetes, heart disease, brain attack, and some cancers.
Excess weight impacts individuals in every country and was responsible for 3.7 million fatalities worldwide in 2024, according to the WHO.
