Brasília – Brazil’s Health Regulatory Agency (Anvisa) is preparing to prioritize the review of GLP-1 analogues, medicines used for type 2 diabetes and obesity and popularly known as “weight-loss pens,” according to reporting by Jota. In a presentation to pharmaceutical industry representatives, the agency justified the move on the grounds of a potential supply shortage.

The manufacturer Novo Nordisk, however, denied the risk of scarcity. Eduardo Custodio, the company’s vice president of marketing in Brazil, stated that current pharmacy stocks are sufficient for three months, production is running normally, and there are no signs of a medium-term shortage. He also noted that the company had not been consulted by Anvisa regarding such concerns.

The meeting at Anvisa was led by director Daniel Meirelles, who said the request for prioritization came from the Ministry of Health. Days earlier, Minister Alexandre Padilha had announced he would request faster review of these medicines. The ministry later confirmed sending a formal request to Anvisa, clarifying that the aim was to boost Brazil’s Health Industrial Complex rather than to prevent a shortage.

Under the proposal, Anvisa is expected to launch a public call allowing companies with pending applications for liraglutide or semaglutide-based products to request priority review. At least 12 such applications are currently under consideration.

Source: Jota

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