Fri Sep 05 15:39:22 UTC 2025: **News Article:**

**WHO Urges Affordable Generics for Obesity, Diabetes Drugs in Developing Nations**

Geneva – The World Health Organization (WHO) has added GLP-1 drugs, commonly used for treating diabetes and increasingly popular for weight loss, to its essential medicines list and is urging the production of affordable generic versions for developing countries. The move aims to address the growing global burden of diabetes and obesity, which affects over a billion people worldwide.

The WHO’s essential medicines list, a catalogue of drugs considered vital for all functioning health systems, now includes the active ingredients found in brand-name medications like Ozempic (semaglutide) and Mounjaro (tirzepatide). While these drugs were initially developed for diabetes, their weight-loss effects have driven significant demand, leading to high prices that limit access in poorer nations.

“High prices of medicines like semaglutide and tirzepatide are limiting access to these medicines,” the WHO said in a statement, advocating for generic drugmakers to produce these drugs as patents begin to expire next year. The WHO emphasized that their inclusion on the essential medicines list specifically targets patients with type 2 diabetes and existing cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, or obesity.

The addition of GLP-1 drugs is part of a broader update to the essential medicines list, which now includes 523 medicines for adults and 374 for children. Other notable additions include Vertex Pharmaceuticals’ Trikafta/Kaftrio for cystic fibrosis and Merck’s Keytruda for various cancers. The WHO also added rapid-acting insulin analogues to improve treatment options for all types of diabetes.

The WHO’s decision reflects the urgency of addressing the global obesity crisis, with more than 3.7 million deaths in 2021 linked to overweight and obesity. The agency plans to recommend medications for obesity more broadly and believes that increased access to affordable GLP-1 drugs is crucial for improving health outcomes in developing countries.

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