A request has been submitted to the World Health Organization (WHO) to consider adding obesity drugs to its essential medicines list, which guides government purchasing decisions in low- and middle-income nations.
The request covers the active ingredient liraglutide in Novo Nordisk’s obesity drug Saxenda, with an updated essential medicines list due in September.
If the request is accepted, it could pave the way for a newer, more powerful treatment from Novo Nordisk called Wegovy to be recommended for low- and middle-income countries in the future.
However, some health experts warn against introducing such medicines too widely as a solution to a complex condition that is still not completely understood.
The WHO spokesperson emphasized that medicines for the treatment of obesity are only one aspect of management, and prevention is also crucial. Over 650 million adults worldwide are obese, with the majority living in low- and middle-income countries.
Adding obesity drugs to the WHO’s essential medicines list could have great significance for that population, similar to the impact of adding HIV drugs in 2002 to make them much more widely available to AIDS patients in poorer countries.
WHO panel to review doctors’ request
A panel of advisers to the WHO will review the request for obesity drugs to be added to the essential medicines list next month. The WHO expert panel will consider the evidence for liraglutide, which is used in Novo Nordisk’s obesity drug Saxenda, over the coming months.
The request for the addition was submitted by three doctors and a researcher in the United States, citing the increasing number of deaths in poorer nations hastened by weight-related illnesses, including heart disease and diabetes, as a discrepancy in global health equity.
Saxenda has been shown to help people reduce 5%-10% of their body weight, while Wegovy, a newer treatment from Novo Nordisk, can lead to a weight loss of up to 15%.
While the use of obesity drugs varies among high-income countries, including whether they can be prescribed by government-sponsored health systems or covered by insurance, the lack of long-term safety and effectiveness data for obesity is a concern.
Studies suggest people may have to take the drugs for the rest of their lives to keep the weight off.
Therefore, some public health experts warn against relying solely on medication to treat obesity, emphasizing the importance of preventive strategies, education, and gender-focused interventions.
