Novo Nordisk's Obesity Drug Saxenda Not Included In WHO's Essential Drug List

The World Health Organization (WHO) published the new editions of the Model Lists of Essential Medicines (EML) and Essential Medicines for Children (EMLc), which include important new medicines for multiple sclerosis, cancer, infectious diseases, and cardiovascular conditions, among others.

For the first time World Health Organization is reportedly considering adding obesity drugs to its "essential medicines list," used to guide government purchasing decisions in low- and middle-income countries, the U.N. agency.

A group of three doctors and a researcher in the U.S. proposed including obesity drugs on the list for the first time earlier this year, focusing mainly on the active ingredient liraglutide in Novo Nordisk A/S's NVO obesity drug Saxenda.

A WHO expert panel recommended against adding the drugs for weight loss, citing the "uncertain long-term clinical benefit and safety in this patient population."

The Expert Committee recommended the inclusion of cladribine branded Mavenclad by EMD Serono and Merck KGaA MKGAF, MKKGY, Teva Pharmaceuticals Inc's TEVA Copaxone (glatiramer acetate), and rituximab branded as Rituxan/MabThera and usually sold by Roche Holdings AG RHHBY, as individual medicines on the EML's complementary list for treating multiple sclerosis.

The panel said their inclusion would "address an important public health need and support global advocacy efforts to reduce the global burden of multiple sclerosis."

Two monoclonal antibody treatments for Ebola Zaire were also added to the list: Ebanga (ansuvimab), made by Ridgeback Biotherapeutics, and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc's REGN Inmazeb (atoltivimab, maftivimab and odesivimab combined).

Naltrexone and acamprosate, both available as generics and designed to treat alcohol-use disorder, were also added and ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) to treat severe malnutrition in children under five.

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