Pharma firms’ focus on weight-loss drugs could put insulin supply at risk, experts warn
Summary
The Access to Medicine Foundation warned that pharmaceutical companies’ focus on profitable GLP-1 weight-loss drugs could weaken attention to insulin and other diabetes treatments. Its report also found that high prices and limited availability keep GLP-1 medicines out of reach for many people in lower-income countries, while access plans for some other medicines have expanded.Key Facts
- The foundation’s chief executive, Jay Iyer, warned that Sanofi, Eli Lilly or Novo Nordisk leaving the insulin market could threaten supply.
- An estimated 589 million adults worldwide have diabetes, and 81% live in low- and middle-income countries.
- GLP-1 medicines, including Ozempic and Mounjaro, were first developed to treat type 2 diabetes and are now widely used for weight loss.
- The report said GLP-1 drugs are not registered in many lower-income countries and remain unaffordable for most people where they are available.
- Only 10 of 25 medicines in development in the area targeted type 1 diabetes, according to the report.
- Novo Nordisk has announced plans to phase out some older diabetes products, including insulin pens.
- Novartis ranked first in the foundation’s global health equity ranking, followed by GSK and AstraZeneca.
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