The World Health Organization (WHO) has added medicines for diabetes and obesity to its “essential medicines list” (EML), it last week (September 5) announced.
The health agency said that three glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists - semaglutide, dulaglutide and liraglutide - and the GLP-1/glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) dual receptor agonist tirzepatide have been added to the EML.
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The WHO’s expert committee “reviewed strong scientific evidence” showing that the drugs can help those with type 2 diabetes by “improving blood sugar control, reducing the risk of heart and kidney complications, supporting weight loss and even lowering the risk of early death”, it added.
The GLP-1 medicines currently approved in the UK to treat diabetes and obesity are semaglutide (brand names Ozempic and Rybelsus for diabetes and Wegovy for weight loss), tirzepatide (brand name Mounjaro for both indications) and liraglutide (sold under various brand names), according to the latest government guidance.
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The WHO said that diabetes and obesity are “two of the most urgent health challenges facing the world today”, with more than 800 million people worldwide living with diabetes in 2022 and more than one billion people affected by obesity.
Its EMLs are updated every two years to include medicines for the “priority health needs of populations” and serve as a “basis for public sector procurement, supply of medicines and health insurance reimbursement schemes”, it added.
The committee - which assesses each drug’s “effectiveness, safety, comparative cost and overall cost-effectiveness” - added 20 new medicines and new indications for seven drugs to the EML overall including for conditions such as cancer, cystic fibrosis and psoriasis, it said.
“High prices”
The agency also said that access to GLP-1s like semaglutide and tirzepatide is limited by the “high prices” of the drugs.
It added that “prioritising those who would benefit most, encouraging generic competition to drive down prices and making these treatments available in primary care” are critical to “expanding access and improving health outcomes”.
The WHO will “continue monitoring developments, support fair pricing strategies and help countries improve access to these life-changing treatments”, it said.
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WHO director of policy and standards for medicines and health products Deusdedit Mubangizi said that much “out-of-pocket spending on noncommunicable diseases goes toward medicines” that “in principle, should be financially accessible to everyone”.
“Achieving equitable access to essential medicines requires a coherent health system response backed by strong political will, multisectoral cooperation and people-centred programmes that leave no one behind,” he added.
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It follows chaos in the healthcare sector sparked by soaring demand for GLP-1 drugs and Mounjaro manufacturer Eli Lilly’s decision to hike the UK list price of its weight loss jab by up to 170% from this month.
Lilly last month confirmed it had frozen wholesaler orders until the price rise came into effect and invited pharmacies to participate in a “Mounjaro rebate scheme”, while the government agreed “redetermined” NHS reimbursement prices for the drug to reflect the uplift.
And some pharmacies providing weight loss jabs have teamed up with PR and advertising companies as regulators sound the alarm on “inappropriate” marketing of the drugs.
