Nathanologist
GLP-1 Enthusiast
The World Health Organization yesterday issued its first-ever guidance on treating obesity with glucagon-like peptide-1 therapies, conditionally recommending the drug class for long-term use in nonpregnant adults alongside a healthy diet, regular exercise, and medical counseling.
The guidance comes as global demand for drugs mimicking the hunger-curbing GLP-1 hormone has surged since 2021, when regulators began approving Wegovy (brand name for semaglutide) for weight loss. US spending on GLP-1 agonists reached $71.7B in 2023, an over 500% increase from 2018, when the drugs were primarily used to treat diabetes. A monthlong course in the US can cost upward of $1K, and the WHO estimates GLP-1 therapies will be inaccessible to over 90% of the more than 2 billion people projected to be affected by obesity in 2030.
The WHO's guidance calls for expanded access through measures such as tiered pricing and urges strong oversight to curb the spread of counterfeit drugs.
The guidance comes as global demand for drugs mimicking the hunger-curbing GLP-1 hormone has surged since 2021, when regulators began approving Wegovy (brand name for semaglutide) for weight loss. US spending on GLP-1 agonists reached $71.7B in 2023, an over 500% increase from 2018, when the drugs were primarily used to treat diabetes. A monthlong course in the US can cost upward of $1K, and the WHO estimates GLP-1 therapies will be inaccessible to over 90% of the more than 2 billion people projected to be affected by obesity in 2030.
The WHO's guidance calls for expanded access through measures such as tiered pricing and urges strong oversight to curb the spread of counterfeit drugs.
