Not even greater restrictions imposed by the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) should impact the increase promoted by the sale of diabetes drugs and weight control in the revenues of Brazilian pharmacy networks. Amid the arrival of Mounjaro, competitor of Ozempic and Wegovy, expectations follow growth in product sales.
In the first quarter of 2025, sales of drug -related drugs and weight control in the Page Less () network increased more than 40%, against a 20% growth in the average prescription drugs.
The company claims to have been the first to announce the pre-sale of Mounjaro in Brazil, a drug that is beginning to be marketed in Brazil in the second half of May. “Our consumer was extremely anxious. He bought the imported, manipulated product, he wanted him to arrive on the market,” Pague CEO Jonas Marques told Infomoney.
Networks like Raia and Drogasil – from RD Saúde () – Drugstore Sao Paulo and Pacheco drugstores have also opened early sales of the drug on their websites.
LPG-1-hormone-based medicines that stimulate insulin secretion-have become popular in recent months as diabetes and obesity treatment options, but their indiscriminate use has caused Anvisa to promote greater control over their distribution.
In April, the agency defined that the sale of the group of drugs could only be done under the retention of a prescription route by the pharmacy.
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In addition to regulatory restrictions, drug retail should still face a reduction in medium drug prices with the arrival of new options to the shelves and the possibility of a patent breakage from Ozempic in 2026, opening the avenue for generic options.
According to the legislation, a generic remedy should be at least 35% cheaper than the reference. A report published by the genius Investimentos, however, says this discount can reach up to 60% when alternatives reach the market.
For the genius, although the drop in the average ticket from 2026 can press the pharmacies, “the expectation is that the volume gain can compensate for this fall.” The report indicates that the increase in customer flow, “with opportunities for loyalty, cross -selling and strengthening the relationship with the consumer of continuous use.”
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“There is a drug -repressed demand for two reasons. The first is access, and the second is the price issue. Not everyone has access to doctors: 75% of the Brazilian population, although SUS is a model health system in the world, cannot afford to access,” says Marques.
He explains that the restrictions promoted by Anvisa should not impact sales at first, as the drug has always required prescription. “Most patients who are able to buy Mounjaro, Ozepic and Wegovy are able to go to the doctor. This looks like a barrier, but it’s an easier barrier to win,” he says.
