The pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk has confirmed that the medicine can be purchased starting from the second half of the year; Brazil is the first Latin American country to make the product available
OR Wegovy (semaglutide 2.4 mg) will be available for purchase in Brazilian pharmacies starting in August, according to manufacturer Novo Nordisk, which has not yet set a specific day for the medicine to hit shelves. With the same active ingredient as Ozempic, Wegovy was released by National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) in January 2023 for the treatment of obesity.
After approval, the drug was expected to arrive in Brazil in the second half of last year. According to Priscila Mattar, an endocrinologist and vice president of medical area at Novo Nordisk, the pharmaceutical company has chosen to postpone the commercialization of Wegovy until it can ensure that the production of the drug keeps pace with demand, since it is a medicine for continuous use. its use and its failure to market it would lead to the interruption of treatment for patients using the product.
Now, however, he guarantees that the Danish pharmaceutical company will be able to guarantee the necessary production for the Brazilian public. To the EstadaoNovo Nordisk said it does not release data on sales projections in the country.
Wegovy is currently available in ten countries. In Latin America, however, Brazil will be the first country to make the drug available for the treatment of obesity in adults and children over 12 years of age. Here, according to the latest survey data, one in four people is affected by a chronic disease Surveillance of risk factors for chronic diseases by telephone survey (Vigitel 2023)annual monitoring by the Ministry of Health.
Information on purchasing Wegovy
The medicine will be sold only upon medical prescription. However, it will not be necessary to keep the prescription in the pharmacy, unlike controlled medicines. According to Novo Nordisk, the price per milligram will be the same as Ozempic, since both medicines are made of the same molecule: semaglutide.
However, since Wegovy will be sold in higher dosages, the value will be proportional to the dose. The Medicines Market Regulatory Chamber (CMED) has established that its maximum price, at the highest dose, could reach R$2,484, depending on the goods and services tax (ICMS) in each state.
Novo Nordisk specifies, however, that the values predicted by CMED “may not be the prices found by patients in stores when the medicines reach the market”. Patient support programs, in addition to obesity education materials, may also offer discounts, according to Mattar.
Ozempic x Wegovy
Both Ozempic and Wegovy are medicines made of the same molecule, semaglutide, which simulates the hormone GLP-1, produced in the intestine. Therefore, it helps control blood sugar levels and also delays stomach emptying, prolonging the feeling of satiety and reducing hunger. Ozempic is approved and already marketed in Brazil for the treatment of diabetes, but has been prescribed by doctors for the treatment of obesity in off label (i.e. with an indication different from that provided for in the leaflet).
Although they have the same active ingredient, the doses in which Ozempic and Wegovy are sold are different. While the diabetes medicine is available in three doses (0.25 mg, 0.50 mg and 1 mg), obesity treatment is offered up to higher doses (0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1 mg, 1.7 mg and 2.4 mg).
“We know that in the treatment of obesity there is this dose-dependency. So the higher the dose, the greater the response, unlike in the treatment of diabetes, where if we increase the dose more, we don’t see as much of a response,” explains Mattar. According to the endocrinologist, the 2.4 mg dose was considered ideal for the treatment of obesity according to studies that tested the safety and effectiveness of the drug. Overall, research has demonstrated an average weight reduction of 17% in people with obesity using Wegovy (semaglutide 2.4 mg).
“The demand for semaglutide will continue, but today doctors who use it off-label will have the ability to put the patient on the correct indication,” Mattar says.
Care in use
Wegovy is indicated for patients with an initial body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2 (obesity) or greater than or equal to 27 kg/m2 (overweight) if accompanied by at least one weight-related comorbidity, such as diabetes or hypertension. Since obesity is a chronic, progressive and relapsing disease, treatment must be carried out continuously and on a long-term basis.
This is because stopping treatment can cause weight gain again. “In the plateau phase (weight balance after losing a few pounds) there is an increase in the hunger hormone in circulation, so the patient feels hungrier, his metabolism becomes more effective, he consumes less energy. There is a lot of struggle on the body’s part to get back to that weight,” explains the Novo Nordisk representative.
The pharmaceutical company reiterates that it does not recommend any use of Wegovy outside of the package leaflet – for example to lose weight for aesthetic purposes – and underlines the need to carry out the treatment only under medical supervision. Professional monitoring during use of the drug is essential so that doses can be increased to reduce side effects. It is also essential that the use of drugs is accompanied by lifestyle changes, such as regular exercise and nutritionally guided eating.
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
