The World Health Organization's advisory board will decide whether to include liraglutide, the active component in some diabetic and obesity therapies, on its list of essential drugs next month.
According to WHO, the list, which is revised every two years, comprises medications "that address the population's primary health needs." "They are designed to be accessible at all times, in appropriate dose quantities, of assured quality, and at prices that individuals and the community can afford within the framework of functioning health systems."
As "a guide for the development and updating of national and institutional essential medicine lists to support the procurement and supply of medicines in the public sector, medicines reimbursement schemes, medicine donations, and local medicine production," the list is intended for use by organizations and institutions.
From April 24-28, the WHO Expert Committee on the Selection and Use of Essential Medicines will convene to review updates and modifications affecting hundreds of pharmaceuticals. Four researchers from American universities including Yale University and Brigham and Women's Hospital requested the addition of GLP-1 receptor agonists like liraglutide.
These medications promote the release of insulin while simulating the effects of the hormone GLP-1, which controls hunger. This delays the movement of food through the gut and lowers blood sugar levels. Its more potent relative, semaglutide, has been approved for diabetes since 2017 and as an obesity treatment in 2021. Liraglutide was created to treat diabetes but was approved in the US as a weight-loss medication in 2014.
The latter application has gained popularity as a result of celebrity endorsements and social media campaigns. It is offered under the brand names Wegovy for weight loss and Ozempic for diabetes. In comparison to other drugs, studies show that semaglutide may help people lose an average of 10% to 15% of their initial weight. Yet, some of the medication's variants have been in short supply in the US since the middle of last year as a result of this strong demand.
Liraglutide's US patent is expected to expire this year, and according to pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, generic versions could be made available as early as June 2024.
According to a statement, the corporation wasn't engaged in the WHO application, but "we appreciate the WHO evaluation and look forward to the readout and conclusion."
In their letter to WHO, the researchers stated that "at the moment, there are no drugs on the [Essential Medicines List] that particularly target weight loss for the global burden of obesity." Even though the majority of people live in "countries where overweight and obesity kill more people than underweight," the EML now includes mineral supplements for nutritional inadequacies.
The WHO's advisors will propose which medications go on this year's list, which is anticipated to be released in September.
"This specific drug has a certain history, but the usage of it probably hasn't been long enough to be able to see it on the Essential Medicines List," says Dr. Francesco Blanca, WHO head for nutrition and food safety. There are other costs associated with treatment-related challenges. WHO is looking into the use of drugs to treat obesity while also providing recommendations for children and adolescents. As a result, we believe it is still in development, but we'll wait and see what the team that develops the Essential Medicines List decides.