WHO Updates Essential Medicines List for Enhanced Global Access
The World Health Organization (WHO) recently updated its influential Model List of Essential Medicines (EML), adding several high-impact treatments to improve global access. Notably, GLP-1 drugs for diabetes, cutting-edge therapies for cystic fibrosis, and specific cancer immunotherapies are now part of this crucial catalogue. This move aims to make these costly medications more available, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. [2, 10]
Expanding Access with GLP-1 Drugs on the WHO Essential Medicines List
The expert committee included active ingredients like semaglutide (found in Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic) and tirzepatide (Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro) in the WHO essential medicines list. [5] These GLP-1 receptor agonists are now recommended for treating type 2 diabetes, especially in adults who also have established cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, or obesity. [4, 8] It is important to note that the WHO explicitly stopped short of adding these drugs for treating obesity alone, a stance it maintained from 2023. [3, 5] This decision provides clear guidance, therefore ensuring the therapies reach patients who will benefit most clinically. [5]
High prices for medicines such as semaglutide and tirzepatide currently limit patient access worldwide. [6] Encouragingly, the WHO emphasizes that generic drug production can help reduce costs significantly as patents begin to expire. [5] Indeed, several companies are already developing generic copies, suggesting a future with broader availability. [10]
Crucial Additions for Cystic Fibrosis and Cancer
Beyond diabetes medications, the updated EML also includes Vertex Pharmaceuticals’ combination therapy for cystic fibrosis, Trikafta or Kaftrio. [7] Activists have long criticized the high price and limited accessibility of this life-changing drug. [9] Additionally, Merck’s top-selling cancer immunotherapy, Keytruda (pembrolizumab), was added for specific metastatic cervical, colorectal, and non-small cell lung cancers. [8, 12] The WHO also recommended strategies to enhance access to these vital cancer treatments. [9]
Furthermore, the list now features rapid-acting insulin analogues from manufacturers like Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly. [2] These insulins are essential for managing type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes, consequently broadening the scope of care for millions globally. [5, 12]
The Role of the WHO Essential Medicines List in Global Health
Comprising 523 medicines for adults and 374 for children, the EML serves as a critical catalogue of drugs that the WHO believes should be accessible in all functioning health systems. [4, 15] Historically, inclusion on this list has dramatically improved drug access in poorer nations, such as with HIV treatments in the early 2000s. [5] Dr. Lorenzo Moja, head of the WHO secretariat overseeing the list, states that inclusion acts as a powerful catalyst for access, moving beyond price as a barrier. [3, 5] Consequently, this update aims to drive down costs through generic competition and support fair pricing strategies. [6]
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What are GLP-1 drugs, and why did WHO add them to the EML?
GLP-1 drugs, like semaglutide and tirzepatide, are medications primarily used to treat type 2 diabetes. The WHO added them to its Essential Medicines List because of their proven clinical benefits for individuals with type 2 diabetes who also have cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, or obesity, aiming to improve global access. [2, 8]
Q2: Does the WHO essential medicines list include GLP-1 drugs for weight loss alone?
No, the WHO did not add GLP-1 drugs to its essential medicines list for the sole purpose of weight loss. The recommendation specifically targets their use in conjunction with type 2 diabetes and associated comorbidities, offering clear guidance on patient populations that benefit most. [3, 5]
Q3: How does the WHO Essential Medicines List help improve access to costly drugs?
Inclusion on the WHO Essential Medicines List acts as a catalyst for access by encouraging countries to prioritize these drugs in their national health systems, informing procurement decisions, and stimulating generic competition when patents expire. This helps drive down prices and makes treatments more affordable globally. [5, 6]
References
- WHO adds GLP-1 drugs for diabetes, others to essential medicines list – ETHealthworld
- WHO Includes Popular Anti-Obesity Drugs On Essential Medicines List For Diabetes Control. Health Policy Watch.
- WHO Adds GLP-1s to Essential Medicines List – Pharmaceutical Executive.
- WHO adds weight loss drugs to essential medicines list – Quartz.
- Ozempic ingredient added to WHO’s essential medicines list | CBC News.
- WHO says GLP-1s are ‘essential,’ but often expensive – FirstWord Pharma.
- Treatment for cystic fibrosis added to Essential Medicines List by the World Health Organization: A victory for campaigners, though prices still ‘toxic’. Medicines Law & Policy.
- WHO updates list of essential medicines to include key cancer, diabetes treatments. World Health Organization.
- WHO adds weight-loss, diabetes drugs to essential medicines list – Al Jazeera.
- Anti-obesity diabetes drugs receive WHO’s essential medicine tag – Business Standard.
- WHO adds GLP-1 drugs for diabetes, others to essential medicines list. The Economic Times.
- WHO has added GLP-1 drugs to the essential medicines list. Here’s what that means. Hindustan Times.
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