WHO Updates Essential Medicines Lists with New Treatments for Cancer, Diabetes, and Other Conditions

Strategic Insights -

The World Health Organization (WHO) has released updated editions of its Model Lists of Essential Medicines (EML) and Essential Medicines for Children (EMLc), adding new treatments for cancer, diabetes, and other conditions. The revised lists include 20 new medicines for adults and 15 for children, along with new use indications for seven already-listed products. The updates aim to expand access to new medicines with proven clinical benefits and high potential for global public health impact.

Key Takeaways:

  • The WHO EML and EMLc include medicines for priority health needs of populations and are adopted in over 150 countries, including the Caribbean.
  • The new editions of the essential medicines lists add treatments for cancer, diabetes, and other conditions, including cystic fibrosis, psoriasis, haemophilia, and blood-related disorders.
  • The WHO Expert Committee reviewed 59 applications, including 31 proposals for the addition of new medicines or medicine classes, and added 20 new medicines to the EML and 15 to the EMLc.
  • The updated lists now include a total of 523 essential medicines for adults and 374 for children, reflecting the most pressing public health needs.
  • Cancer is the second leading cause of death globally, claiming nearly 10 million lives each year, and cancer treatments have been a major focus of the WHO EML for the past decade.
  • The Expert Committee applies rigorous criteria to recommend only those therapies that offer the greatest clinical benefit, including a requirement that cancer medicines prolong life by at least four to six months.
  • The Committee recommended increasing access to PD-1/PD-L1 immune checkpoint inhibitors, a class of immunotherapy medicines that help the body's immune system recognize and attack cancer cells more effectively.
  • The WHO Expert Committee also considered several expert-recommended strategies aimed at improving access to and affordability of cancer treatments, including dose optimisation approaches and clinical strategies that can be implemented immediately in resource-limited settings.
  • The WHO said diabetes and obesity are two of the most urgent health challenges currently facing the world, with over 800 million people living with diabetes in 2022, and more than one billion people worldwide affected by obesity.
  • The WHO Expert Committee reviewed strong scientific evidence showing that glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists can help people with type 2 diabetes, especially those who also have heart or kidney disease, by improving blood sugar control and reducing the risk of heart and kidney complications.

Statistics:

  • 20 new medicines were added to the EML and 15 to the EMLc, along with new use indications for seven already-listed products.
  • The updated lists now include a total of 523 essential medicines for adults and 374 for children.
  • Cancer is the second leading cause of death globally, claiming nearly 10 million lives each year.
  • Cancer treatments have been a major focus of the WHO EML for the past decade, with cancer medicines currently accounting for about half of all new drug approvals by regulatory agencies.
  • 25 cancer medicines were evaluated as part of the Expert Committee's review.
  • 7 applications encompassing 25 cancer medicines were evaluated.
  • Over 800 million people lived with diabetes in 2022, and more than one billion people worldwide are affected by obesity.

Sources:

  • The World Health Organization (WHO) press release dated [no date] (accessed [no date])
  • WHO Expert Committee on the Selection and Use of Essential Medicines (no date)
  • The Lancet (no date)
  • Guardian (no date)