The European Medicines Agency is calling for both pharma companies and its member states to address the supply pressures on GLP-1 weight loss and diabetes drugs.
The ongoing shortage for GLP-1 drugs is unlikely to abate this year, EMA Executive Director Emer Cooke said during a media call Wednesday. As such, the agency established a set of recommendations that could help address bottlenecks.
“Shortages of these medicines are a major public health concern and they require urgent and coordinated action across the member states and also across many actors,” Cooke added.
Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk have faced supply constraints of their GLP-1 drugs, with three doses of Lilly’s diabetes drug Ozempic in limited supply in Europe. Cooke said Lilly’s Trulicity, as well as Novo’s Victoza and Saxenda, are at risk of shortage.
The EMA said member states should implement strategies to control the distribution of GLP-1 drugs. For instance, they could restrict the number of medicine packages included in each prescription to spread available supply among patients.
The agency also said it plans to help companies boost their manufacturing capacity from a regulatory perspective. Novo and Lilly are already in a production race, with Novo recently earmarking $4.1 billion for a new site in the US, and Lilly announcing a $2.5 billion facility in Germany.
The EMA warned healthcare professionals against off-label use of GLP-1s, such as for cosmetic purposes, because these contribute to shortages. The agency also warned patients to be wary of fake GLP-1s.