Weight-loss jab could be made for $3 a month, study finds

16 hours ago

Weight-loss jabs like Wegovy and Ozempic could cost as little as $3 a month to produce, making them accessible in poorer countries.
Semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy and Ozempic, was designated as an essential medicine by the WHO in 2023.
Patents on semaglutide are expiring in 10 countries in 2024, including Brazil, China, and India, paving the way for generic versions.
An estimated 69% of people with type 2 diabetes and 84% of those with obesity live in countries where patents have not been filed.
Cheaper production could follow the model of HIV, TB, and malaria drugs, ensuring affordability in low- and middle-income countries.
Obesity is linked to serious health conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer, causing 3.7 million deaths annually.
Current prices in the US and UK are around $200 and £120 per month, respectively, but patents in these regions expire in five years.
The study used shipment records and past methodologies to predict generic drug pricing accurately.
Médecins Sans Frontières also found that diabetes drugs, including semaglutide, could be produced much more affordably.

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