Promise to distribute generic Ozempic is confirmed by Eduardo Paes

Eduardo Paes (PSD) on the first day of 2025, January 1st, confirms his promise to distribute generic Ozempic from next year. Re-elected mayor for the fourth time in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Paes intends to make 3,000 doses available monthly in Rio's single health system (SUS) from January 2026.

The municipal health secretary and coordinator of studies on the substance, Daniel Soranz, states that a working group has been created to introduce semaglutide in the treatment of obesity, in severe cases, in family clinics. The secretary has 90 days to present the results of the study to the mayor.

“We are going to create a program to combat obesity that already lays the foundations for acquiring semaglutide, Ozempic, by breaking the drug’s patent,” says Paes during the inauguration ceremony.

Currently, the price of a dose of the medicine costs around R$1,000.00, but with the breaking of the patent and distribution through the SUS the value may decrease, becoming more accessible to the population.

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_{Mayor Eduardo Paes (Photo: reproduction/Mauro Pimentel/AFP/Getty Images Embed)}

Semaglutide

Semaglutide was approved by Anvisa (National Health Surveillance Agency) in 2018 for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. It was observed that the substance had good results in weight loss and was also used by people with obesity, outside the leaflet indications. Mayor Eduardo Paes claims to have lost 30kg using the medication.

The substance is a hormone that stimulates insulin secretion, causing gastric slowdown and emptying, reducing food consumption. Here in Brazil, it is known as the active ingredient in Ozempic.

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_{Woman holds Ozempic application and shows baggy pants (Photo: reproduction/Tatsiana Volkava/moment/Getty Images Embed)}

Use of the medicine

Using Ozempic can cause side effects such as:

• Nausea
• Malaise
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Gastritis
• Hypoglycemia
• Abdominal pain
• Headache
• Weakness
• Tiredness
• Gastroenteritis

Secretary Daniel Soranz says it is necessary to monitor the family doctor, who will determine the use of the medication by monitoring the patient. Self-medication is not recommended, and treatment must be carried out alongside physical activity and an adequate diet.

Featured Photo: Ozempic application in the box (reproduction/Mario Tama/Getty Images Embed)