WHO adds GLP-1 diabetes drugs to Essential Medicines List

The World Health Organization on Friday added key diabetes drugs from the class known as GLP1 receptor agonists to its Model List of Essential Medicines, a move that officials said is intended to expand global access to high-cost treatments for millions of people with type 2 diabetes. The expert committee placed the active ingredients in semaglutide and tirzepatide on the list for use in type 2 diabetes when patients also have established cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease or obesity, but stopped short of endorsing the drugs for obesity alone.

WHO officials said the inclusion is meant to guide governments and health systems in prioritizing procurement and to catalyze broader availability, particularly in low and middle income countries where price has limited access. Dr Lorenzo Moja, head of the WHO secretariat overseeing the list, said the committee views listing as a potential catalyst for access rather than letting price be a disqualifying factor. Yukiko Nakatani, WHO assistant director general for Health Systems, Access and Data, said the update marks a significant step toward widening access to medicines with strong clinical benefits and public health impact....