New analysis suggests that weight-loss drugs such as semaglutide (sold under the brand names Wegovy for obesity and Ozempic for diabetes) could be mass-produced for as little as $3 (about £2.35) per month for the injectable form. This could potentially make the treatment available to millions in poorer countries as patents expire, addressing a critical global health issue where over a billion people live with obesity worldwide.
The World Health Organization designated semaglutide as an essential medicine in September last year, but high prices have limited access. Researchers found that core patents on semaglutide are due to expire in 10 countries this year, including Brazil, China, India, South Africa, Turkey, Mexico, and Canada from March 21, paving the way for generic competition. They identified another 150 countries where patents had not been filed, covering most of Africa, with these 160 nations home to 69% of people with type 2 diabetes and 84% of those living with obesity.
Dr. Andrew Hill from the University of Liverpool’s pharmacology department, one of the study authors, stated: "These low prices open the door to worldwide access to an essential medicine." However, the researchers warned that cheaper treatments would not address the structural drivers of obesity, such as food insecurity, poverty, urbanization, and commercial food environments, emphasizing the need for coordinated policies and procurement planning to realize the benefits.
Dr. Nomathemba Chandiwana, chief scientific officer at South Africa’s Desmond Tutu Health Foundation and an obesity specialist not involved in the study, noted: "This could be very significant for South Africa and many African countries and low- and middle-income countries at large where cost has been one of the main barriers to access." She added that about 27% of adults worldwide meet the criteria for drugs like semaglutide, with most living in LMICs where access is extremely limited.
Semaglutide currently costs about $200 a month in the US and £120 a month in the UK, but patents in Europe and the US do not expire for another five years. The research, based on shipment records of key ingredients from 2024 and 2025, uses a methodology that has accurately predicted generic drug prices for HIV, hepatitis C, and some cancer drugs in the past, following similar findings by Médecins Sans Frontières in 2024.
Source: www.theguardian.com