WHO Considers Adding Obesity Drugs to Essential Medicines List.

The World Health Organization (WHO) is considering adding obesity drugs to its "essential medicines list," which guides government purchasing decisions in low- and middle-income countries. The request to consider obesity drugs was submitted by three doctors and a researcher in the United States and covers the active ingredient liraglutide in Novo Nordisk's obesity drug Saxenda. The panel of advisers to the WHO will review new requests for drugs to be included next month, with an updated essential medicines list due in September.