Affordable Semaglutide Could Expand Access Globally
Weight-loss injections such as Wegovy and Ozempic, which contain the drug semaglutide, could be produced for as little as $3 per month, according to a recent analysis. This pricing could enable millions of people in lower-income countries to access treatment as patents expire.
Worldwide, over 500 million people are affected by obesity, with rates increasing rapidly in low- and middle-income countries due to changing diets and more sedentary lifestyles.
In September 2023, the World Health Organization classified semaglutide—marketed for obesity under Wegovy and for diabetes under Ozempic—as an essential medicine. However, global health authorities highlighted that high prices were restricting access.
A new study, published as a pre-print, indicates that semaglutide could be mass-produced for approximately $3 (around £2.35) per month in its injectable form. Oral formulations, which are newer, could be manufactured for about $16 monthly.
“These low prices open the door to worldwide access to an essential medicine,” said Dr Andrew Hill of Liverpool University’s pharmacology department, one of the study’s authors.
The research also identified that core patents on semaglutide are set to expire in 10 countries this year, including Brazil, China, India, South Africa, Turkey, Mexico, and Canada from 21 March, paving the way for generic competition.
Furthermore, the study found that patents have not been filed in approximately 150 additional countries, including most of Africa. Combined, these 160 countries account for 69% of people with type 2 diabetes and 84% of those living with obesity globally.
Prof François Venter from Witwatersrand University in Johannesburg, another author, stated: “Drugs to treat HIV, TB, malaria and hepatitis are available in low- and middle-income countries for prices close to the cost of production, saving millions of lives while allowing generic companies to make sufficient profit to ensure sustainable supply. We can repeat this medical success story for semaglutide.”
The researchers cautioned that while cheaper treatments could improve access, they would not address the underlying causes of obesity, such as food insecurity, poverty, urbanisation, and commercial food environments. They emphasized the need for coordinated policies and procurement planning to fully realize the benefits.
Dr Nomathemba Chandiwana, chief scientific officer at South Africa’s Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation and an obesity specialist not involved in the study, commented on the significance of the findings for Africa and other low- and middle-income countries (LMICs):
“This could be very significant for South Africa and many African countries and low and middle-income countries [LMICs] at large where cost has been one of the main barriers to access.”
She noted that analyses suggest approximately 27% of adults worldwide meet the criteria for drugs like semaglutide, and importantly, most of these individuals live in LMICs where access remains extremely limited.
Chandiwana added: “The key question now is how health systems integrate the drugs responsibly into broader obesity and diabetes care.”
Obesity and Diabetes: A Growing Global Challenge
Obesity is associated with numerous health issues, including heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and cancer. Each year, millions of deaths are attributed to obesity-related conditions.
The number of people living with diabetes is rising globally, with the most significant increases occurring in low- and middle-income countries.
Semaglutide was first approved by US regulators in 2017. It currently costs approximately $1,300 per month in the US and £250 in the UK. Patents in Britain, continental Europe, and the US are not set to expire for several years.
The study’s cost estimates are based on shipment records of key ingredients from 2024 and 2025 and employ a methodology previously used to accurately predict generic medicine prices for HIV, hepatitis C, and some cancer drugs.
These findings follow research by Médecins Sans Frontières in 2024, which found that generic versions of semaglutide could be produced at significantly lower costs.
