Governments should back “game-changing” weight loss drugs for the benefit of human health worldwide in a similar universal approach to the way vaccines were rolled out during the global pandemic, doctors said.
Speaking at the annual Global Healthspan Summit in Riyadh, which ran from February 4-5, experts said a new approach towards life-limiting health conditions was required after years of failure of public health initiatives. With a global focus on prevention rather than treatment for sickness, a seismic shift in the approach to health should be adopted around the world, with emerging medications set to play a vital role in reducing the costs of ill health.
Medications such as Ozempic and Wegovy, known as GLP-1 agonists, have transformed the way doctors treat diabetes and obesity, and their associated health conditions. Doctors are finding that this group of drugs is also showing success in treating several other conditions that often appear in old age, such as heart problems and Parkinson’s disease.
“This new technology injects new ideas, new questions, new possibilities, but also new moral concerns,” said Prof David B Allison, an obesity researcher and dean of the Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington. “A single injectable drug is unlikely to be the solution for everything, but we should not be dismissive of pharmaceuticals. GLP-1 drugs seem to have an extraordinary breadth of potential benefits ranging from addictions to quality of life. We keep talking about minor changes in physical activity, physical education in schools, but time after time we found that those don't make much difference. It seems to be a powerful thing to reduce the incidence of obesity and diabetes, and GLP-1 receptor agonists could be the solution.”
However, analysis of more than two million people in the US has shown that GLP-1 agonists also carry potential risks, such as arthritis and pancreatitis, which can be fatal.
Cost savings
Recent FDA approval of a more affordable, generic GLP-1 drug with similar properties has given hope that these drugs could be offered on a large scale, reducing the burden on treating sickness.
“We’ve heard about the tremendous cost savings that could be accrued if we extended health span,” said Prof Allison during the GHS talks. “I would encourage government action, just as we did with Covid-19 vaccines, to try to make them (GLP-1) as available and inexpensive as possible, to make them more freely available.”
A Global Healthspan Report, commissioned by the Hevolution Foundation in 2024, surveyed 4,000 people across 20 countries, alongside interviews with scientists, doctors and policy experts to understand more about the costs of an ageing global population.
Almost two-thirds of health professionals asked (63 per cent) believed health systems would not be financially viable by 2030 without a breakthrough in healthy longevity science. As well as emerging new drugs that promise to reduce the cost of treating expensive ailments, technological innovation can also help.
While AI-powered liquid biopsies promise to catch killer diseases before they take hold, the field of senolytics can target damaged cells before they wreak havoc on the body. Meanwhile mRNA vaccines and cell and gene therapy hold promise for stopping diseases from emerging altogether.
Ageing economic boom
Sir Jonathan Symonds, chairman of GSK, told the conference that keeping people healthy and working into old age can have significant economic benefits.
“The terrifying part for many governments is the increasing burden of dealing with sick people today when what they actually want is a system of prevention,” Sir Jonathan said. “Investing in the health of people who aren't manifesting themselves with disease is really important, because you will be investing before you start to realise the economic benefits that come from keeping people employed or socially and economically engaged.”
In the New Agenda for Global Health report, 97 per cent of financial professionals said healthy longevity investments could yield greater financial returns than traditional healthcare investments. But they also said tight regulations around research could stand in the way of the most rewarding innovations and called for greater support for those recognising early diagnosis and prevention.
“You've got to be able to demonstrate how your product or your intervention directly impacts healthspan, but also the economic outcome,” Sir Jonathan said. “Five years ago, I don't think we thought of getting ahead of disease quite in the way that we're discussing it now (at GSK), but that is exactly what we have to do.”
Financing old age is a major issue facing many nations, with some already extending retirement age to pay for the increasing burden on social care, paired with reduced productivity. Most countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development aim to gradually increase the retirement age of workers.
In Germany, it will increase from 66 to 67 by 2031, while in the UK, it will rise to 68 from 2044. Meanwhile, in China, statutory retirement will be gradually increased over a 15-year term for men until they are 63, up from 60, and 55 in women.
How to finance the cost of an ageing global population was a key topic at the Riyadh conference, with keeping people fit and healthy in their 50s holding huge potential for rich economic dividends, experts said.
Faisal Alibrahim, minister of economy and planning in Saudi Arabia, said changing life expectancy had accelerated change in pensions structures, and the length of time people will have to remain in work. “Pension systems in the past focused on a model or a formula that says 40 years of work, 20 years of savings and retirement, but we're seeing life expectancy going up to 90 years globally,” he said. “One of our targets was to grow life expectancy and of course that was when Vision 2030 started. Today we understand things better, so we're focusing on healthy average life expectancy.”
Live longer, work longer
By 2030, Mr Alibrahim said life expectancy was expected to average 80 in KSA. Pension reform is under way there to improve productivity from the workforce.
“It's important to keep in mind things such as pensions, preventive medicine and careers,” said Mr Alibrahim. “We used to view careers as ladders, today they are continuums. In Japan, AI and automation is used to augment an ageing population, and today in the kingdom, we've already tackled that through a biotech strategy, through investing in the 4th industrial revolution and through focusing on AI. We want to be power users of generative AI which will help us to be more productive as we grow older.”
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
Why your domicile status is important
Your UK residence status is assessed using the statutory residence test. While your residence status – ie where you live - is assessed every year, your domicile status is assessed over your lifetime.
Your domicile of origin generally comes from your parents and if your parents were not married, then it is decided by your father. Your domicile is generally the country your father considered his permanent home when you were born.
UK residents who have their permanent home ("domicile") outside the UK may not have to pay UK tax on foreign income. For example, they do not pay tax on foreign income or gains if they are less than £2,000 in the tax year and do not transfer that gain to a UK bank account.
A UK-domiciled person, however, is liable for UK tax on their worldwide income and gains when they are resident in the UK.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Fire and Fury
By Michael Wolff,
Henry Holt
Dubai World Cup prize money
Group 1 (Purebred Arabian) 2000m Dubai Kahayla Classic - $750,000
Group 2 1,600m(Dirt) Godolphin Mile - $750,000
Group 2 3,200m (Turf) Dubai Gold Cup – $750,000
Group 1 1,200m (Turf) Al Quoz Sprint – $1,000,000
Group 2 1,900m(Dirt) UAE Derby – $750,000
Group 1 1,200m (Dirt) Dubai Golden Shaheen – $1,500,000
Group 1 1,800m (Turf) Dubai Turf – $4,000,000
Group 1 2,410m (Turf) Dubai Sheema Classic – $5,000,000
Group 1 2,000m (Dirt) Dubai World Cup– $12,000,000
Brief scores:
Pakistan (1st innings) 181: Babar 71; Olivier 6-37
South Africa (1st innings) 223: Bavuma 53; Amir 4-62
Pakistan (2nd innings) 190: Masood 65, Imam 57; Olivier 5-59
The Way It Was: My Life with Frank Sinatra by Eliot Weisman and Jennifer Valoppi
Hachette Books
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
The specs
Common to all models unless otherwise stated
Engine: 4-cylinder 2-litre T-GDi
0-100kph: 5.3 seconds (Elantra); 5.5 seconds (Kona); 6.1 seconds (Veloster)
Power: 276hp
Torque: 392Nm
Transmission: 6-Speed Manual/ 8-Speed Dual Clutch FWD
Price: TBC
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
Voices: How A Great Singer Can Change Your Life
Nick Coleman
Jonathan Cape
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The Bio
Favourite place in UAE: Al Rams pearling village
What one book should everyone read: Any book written before electricity was invented. When a writer willingly worked under candlelight, you know he/she had a real passion for their craft
Your favourite type of pearl: All of them. No pearl looks the same and each carries its own unique characteristics, like humans
Best time to swim in the sea: When there is enough light to see beneath the surface
Ahmed Raza
UAE cricket captain
Age: 31
Born: Sharjah
Role: Left-arm spinner
One-day internationals: 31 matches, 35 wickets, average 31.4, economy rate 3.95
T20 internationals: 41 matches, 29 wickets, average 30.3, economy rate 6.28
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Akeed
Based: Muscat
Launch year: 2018
Number of employees: 40
Sector: Online food delivery
Funding: Raised $3.2m since inception
Pad Man
Dir: R Balki
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Sonam Kapoor, Radhika Apte
Three-and-a-half stars
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Barcelona v Liverpool, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE).
Second leg
Liverpool v Barcelona, Tuesday, May 7, 11pm
Games on BeIN Sports
The specs: Lamborghini Aventador SVJ
Price, base: Dh1,731,672
Engine: 6.5-litre V12
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 770hp @ 8,500rpm
Torque: 720Nm @ 6,750rpm
Fuel economy: 19.6L / 100km
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
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From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
SHAITTAN
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