A recent study suggests that weight-loss injections could be produced for as little as $3 a month, potentially increasing accessibility in poorer countries as patents expire.
A new study indicates that weight-loss injections like Wegovy and Ozempic could be manufactured for only $3 per month, significantly lowering the cost and possibly making these treatments more accessible to millions in low-income countries as patents expire. Currently, rates of obesity are rising rapidly around the world, especially in lower-income nations experiencing shifts to Western diets and sedentary lifestyles, making affordable obesity treatments increasingly important.
The World Health Organization categorized semaglutide, which is utilized in both Wegovy and Ozempic, as an essential medicine in September 2022, highlighting the pressing need for accessible obesity treatments. Despite this designation, health leaders stress that high prices for these medications have been a barrier to access for many individuals who could benefit from them. The findings from the new pre-print research could potentially alleviate this issue, making it possible to produce semaglutide more affordably.
Dr. Andrew Hill from Liverpool University emphasized the significance of these findings, noting that not only can injectable forms of semaglutide be produced at a lower cost, but newer pill formulations could be manufactured for about $16 per month. This substantial reduction in costs could lead to higher availability and usage of these treatments, especially in poorer nations, thereby addressing the growing global obesity epidemic more effectively.
