Lower drug prices increase obesity treatment access in Brazil

The pharmaceutical company EMS launched the first semaglutide produced in Brazil in June 2026, leading to a surge in medication purchases.

According to public data from the regulatory agency Anvisa, purchases of GLP-1 medications in August rose roughly 50 percent above the average from January to May. While the total revenue for the category remained stable, the average price per box dropped by about 25 percent.

Doctor Eduardo Rauen observed that these price changes have encouraged many people to restart their obesity treatments. At the Liti Saúde platform, more than half of the patients who had previously stopped using imported semaglutide returned to the treatment. Rauen noted that new patients are generally older, have more advanced obesity, and report diabetes more frequently than patients from a year ago. Rauen warned that lower prices only facilitate the start of treatment rather than ensuring long-term success.

He stated that patients still require continuous medical supervision, nutritional guidance, and behavioral changes to manage chronic obesity. He urged healthcare providers to build a model of continuous care to support the growing number of people entering treatment.