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Cancer

WHO Updates Essential Medicines List to Include New Cancer and Diabetes Treatments

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The World Health Organization (WHO) has published updated editions of its Model List of Essential Medicines (EML) and Essential Medicines for Children (EMLc) to include new treatments for several cancers and for diabetes and related conditions such as obesity. The updated lists highlight medicines that address priority health needs worldwide and are used as a foundation for public sector procurement, medicine supply, and health insurance or reimbursement programs by more than 150 countries. The WHO Expert Committee on the Selection and Use of Essential Medicines reviewed 59 applications, resulting in the addition of 20 new medicines to the EML, 15 to the EMLc, and new indications for seven existing medicines.

Key Takeaways:

  • 20 new medicines have been added to the WHO EML, including semaglutide, dulaglutide, and liraglutide, which are GLP-1 receptor agonists that benefit people with type 2 diabetes by improving glucose control, decreasing heart and kidney risks, aiding weight loss, and reducing early mortality.
  • 15 new medicines have been added to the EMLc, which targets essential medicines for children.
  • Seven existing medicines have new indications, including induced T regulatory cell immunotherapies and atezolizumab for metastatic non-small cell lung cancer.
  • The WHO Expert Committee reviewed 25 cancer medicine applications and recommended broader access to programmed cell death protein 1 and programmed death-ligand 1 immunotherapies.
  • Pembrolizumab was added to the EML for several metastatic cancers, with atezolizumab and cemiplimab listed as alternatives for metastatic non-small cell lung cancer.
  • Deusdedit Mubangizi, WHO director of policy and standards for medicines and health products, emphasized the need for a coherent health system response backing strong political will, multisectoral cooperation, and people-centered programs for equitable access to essential medicines.
  • The WHO EML and EMLc highlight medicines that address priority health needs worldwide and are used as a foundation for public sector procurement, medicine supply, and health insurance or reimbursement programs by more than 150 countries.
  • The WHO Expert Committee on the Selection and Use of Essential Medicines reviewed 59 applications and found strong evidence that glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists are particularly beneficial for people with type 2 diabetes, particularly those with heart or kidney disease.
  • Tirzepatide, a GLP-1/glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide dual receptor agonist, has also been included in the EML.

Statistics:

  • 150+ countries use the WHO EML and EMLc as a foundation for public sector procurement, medicine supply, and health insurance or reimbursement programs.
  • 59 applications were reviewed by the WHO Expert Committee on the Selection and Use of Essential Medicines.
  • 20 new medicines have been added to the EML, 15 to the EMLc, and new indications for seven existing medicines.
  • 25 cancer medicine applications were reviewed by the WHO Expert Committee.
  • 4 immunotherapies were recommended for broader access to cancer treatment: programmed cell death protein 1, programmed death-ligand 1, pembrolizumab, atezolizumab, and cemiplimab.

Sources:

  • World Health Organization (2025). "WHO updates list of essential medicines to include new treatments for several cancers and for diabetes and related conditions such as obesity".
  • Deusdedit Mubangizi, Director of Policy and Standards for Medicines and Health Products, WHO (2025) as quoted in the World Health Organization (2025) press release.

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