EMA and the Heads of Medicines Agencies (HMA), through the Executive Steering Group on Shortages and Safety of Medicinal Products (MSSG), have issued recommendations to tackle shortages of the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists Ozempic (semaglutide), Saxenda (liraglutide), Trulicity (dulaglutide) and Victoza (liraglutide). GLP-1 receptor agonists are authorised for the treatment of diabetes or for weight management under certain conditions or both.
Since 2022, a surge in demand for some of these medicines, coupled with other issues such as manufacturing capacity constraints, has led to shortages across the EU.