Pakistan’s healthcare landscape has entered a pivotal phase in the management of diabetes and obesity. For years, advanced incretin-based therapies, known globally for their role in blood sugar and weight control, remained out of reach for most local patients due to high import costs and limited supply. That gap is now beginning to close.
What Makes These Therapies Different
GLP-1(glucagon-like peptide-1) and GIP (gastric inhibitory polypeptide) RA (receptor agonists) are medications that replicate the body’s natural hormones responsible for managing insulin, appetite, and digestion. By working with these pathways, they help reduce blood glucose, promote satiety, and often lead to significant weight loss. Studies have also shown improvements in cardiovascular and liver health. These incretin-based medicines have become central to modern metabolic care, allowing physicians to address both obesity and diabetes through a single, evidence-supported treatment pathway.
A Global Trend, Now Taking Root Locally
Internationally, drugs such as semaglutide and tirzepatide have reshaped treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity, with outcomes that surpass many older regimens. In Pakistan, locally produced biosimilar versions, developed to meet international quality benchmarks—are now making these options more accessible. Biosimilars are biological medicines that are highly similar to previously approved reference products. They demonstrate equivalent safety, quality, and efficacy. This is achieved through rigorous regulatory evaluation, ensuring the same clinical performance at more accessible cost.
Several pharmaceutical companies in Pakistan have recently begun producing incretin-based therapies locally — marking a major step toward improved access and affordability. The introduction of a complete range of GLP-1 and GIP RA treatments reflects a growing focus on patient convenience, reducing barriers such as needle anxiety and complex dosing schedules that often lead to treatment discontinuation.
The Significance of Local Manufacturing
Until recently, imported versions of these therapies could cost five to ten times the average monthly household income, limiting sustained access for most patients who need long-term treatment. Local production can reduce costs and help stabilize supply.
Pharmaceutical companies in Pakistan have begun investing in the local production of advanced incretin-based therapies to improve access and affordability.
Professor Dr. Javed Akram, an esteemed physician from Lahore, said: “For years, we knew these medicines could change lives, but doctors like me often had to turn patients away because patients simply couldn’t afford or find them. What’s happening now is genuinely encouraging. A local company has become the first in the world to manufacture all three advanced GLP-1 and GIP RA therapies locally: tirzepatide injection, semaglutide injection, and oral semaglutide. It’s not just a milestone for the company but for our healthcare system. And lucky for us, the usual fear that ‘local’ might mean lower quality doesn’t apply here since their facility meets PIC/s, WHO GMP, and EAEU certifications.”
Following Dr. Akram’s remarks, Upon further review of the therapies he referenced, it was found that the treatments he mentioned are manufactured by Getz Pharma.— the first company in the world to manufacture all three advanced GLP-1 and GIP receptor agonists locally. Each targets the same metabolic pathway but offers patients a different form of treatment suited to their needs.
- Tirzepatide injection (Tirzee) — a dual GIP and GLP-1 RA administered once weekly through an auto-injector designed for consistent dosing and ease of use.
- Semaglutide injection (SEM-P) — an injectable form of semaglutide available as both a vial and a pre-filled pen, providing flexibility in administration and dosing.
- Oral semaglutide (SEM-O) — a tablet that uses SNAC technology to enable absorption of a peptide-based medicine through the stomach, allowing oral delivery instead of injection.
The Role of Support and Education
Modern diabetes and obesity care extends beyond medication. Patients who begin these therapies often need lifestyle guidance, nutritional support, and regular follow-up—factors that strengthen adherence and outcomes. These are prescription-only therapies and should be initiated and monitored by qualified healthcare professionals, with individualized care plans that pair treatment with nutrition and lifestyle management.
A Shift Toward Equitable Metabolic Health
The local introduction of GLP-1 and GIP RA marks a critical step toward bridging global science with domestic healthcare needs. As affordability improves and awareness grows, Pakistan could become a regional example of how advanced biologic therapies—once exclusive to wealthier markets—can be responsibly localized without compromising safety or efficacy. Continued regulatory oversight and clinician education will be important to sustain this progress.
