Could one daily pill narrow the diabetes treatment gap in the Global South?

Daily oral GLP-1 medicines could make treatment for type 2 diabetes and obesity easier to access in lower-income countries, where injectable drugs can be expensive and refrigeration is difficult to maintain. The shift from weekly injections to pills may therefore help close a treatment gap, although the article presents affordability and distribution as potential benefits rather than guaranteed outcomes.

The article says about one in nine people aged 20 to 79 worldwide has diabetes, while Pakistan has the highest reported prevalence at 31.4 per cent. Prices for injectable tirzepatide vary sharply: the article cites about $723 for imported Mounjaro in Pakistan and $61 for a locally made version; locally manufactured oral semaglutide is cited at about $18 for 30 days. Doctors interviewed describe GLP-1 medicines as useful for blood sugar and weight management, with possible benefits for related health conditions.