A new generation of medicines for type 2 diabetes has become a rage among people who seek them for a purpose other than that indicated on the leaflet: to lose weight. Ozempic, from the Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, and its most recent competitor, Mounjaro, from the American laboratory Eli Lilly, have proven results in weight loss. The problem is finding them in pharmacies — and paying for the treatment.
Ozempic is an injectable medicine containing semaglutide, which mimics the effects of the hormone GLP-1 produced in the intestine. Recommended for people with high blood glucose levels, it communicates to the brain the feeling of satiety after meals. Its use is continuous and costs around 1,000 reais per month. The intense demand for the medicine caused its shortage in pharmacies throughout 2023 — not only in Brazil, but globally.
Mounjaro is more effective. In addition to stimulating the production of GLP-1, it facilitates the production of the hormone GIP, responsible for the release of insulin. A comparative clinical study published in New England Journal of Medicine revealed that patients who used Mounjaro 15 mg lost 12.4 pounds over forty weeks. It is twice the weight loss compared to those who used semaglutide 1 mg.
Although the sale of Mounjaro in Brazil was authorized by Anvisa in September 2023, its distribution in pharmacies depends on the product being priced by the Medicines Market Regulation Chamber. In the United States, treatment costs $1,000 per month. In Brazil, with imported medicine, the same treatment costs up to 10,000 reais. Because of its higher cost, Mounjaro has been called “the rich man’s Ozempic.” This type of drug has become popular with artists and influencers, who publicize its effects daily. According to a study by the research arm of Morgan Stanley, anti-obesity drugs generated a turnover of 2.4 billion dollars worldwide in 2022. The projection is that this market will reach 77 billion dollars by 2030.
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Drugs like these present results comparable to those of bariatric surgery, with manageable side effects such as nausea, diarrhea and increased muscle fatigue. However, endocrinologist Cynthia Valério, from the Brazilian Association for the Study of Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome, highlights that purely aesthetic use can result in loss of lean mass, not fat: “The use of medications must be indicated by the doctor and come accompanied by a change in lifestyle, with a balanced diet and regular physical activity.”
Published in VEJA, April 2024, VEJA Business edition nº 1
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