The WHO dropped its first official guidance on weight-loss drugs like Wegovy and says fewer than 10 percent of the billion-plus obese people worldwide can actually get their hands on them. Supply chain problems, high prices, and limited manufacturing capacity mean the drugs remain out of reach for most folks who need them, even though obesity rates keep climbing and could hit two billion people by 2030.
The organization wants countries and pharmaceutical companies to expand access through licensing deals that let generic versions get made once patents expire. Semaglutide patents are about to run out in places like India and China, which should help bring costs down. The WHO is pushing these medications as part of long-term treatment plans that combine the injections with diet and exercise changes, since people tend to gain the weight back after stopping the drugs.
The organization wants countries and pharmaceutical companies to expand access through licensing deals that let generic versions get made once patents expire. Semaglutide patents are about to run out in places like India and China, which should help bring costs down. The WHO is pushing these medications as part of long-term treatment plans that combine the injections with diet and exercise changes, since people tend to gain the weight back after stopping the drugs.
