The National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) announced on September 25th the release of Mounjaro, a new treatment for type 2 diabetes, developed by pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly.
The drug, already available in the United States and Europe, showed promising results in controlling blood sugar levels and reducing weight, when compared to Ozempic, from Novo Nordisk.
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Mounjaro, whose active ingredient is tirzepatide, works by activating cellular receptors related to two hormones in the digestive system: glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1). This process improves the release of insulin after meals, facilitating the blood glucose control.
Furthermore, such receptors are also present in brain cells that regulate appetite, which can lead to weight loss.
In clinical studies involving more than 19 thousand patients from various parts of the world, Mounjaro proved to be more effective than Ozempic in controlling
type 2 diabetes.For example, in the Surpass-2 study, 51% of patients taking the 15 mg version of Mounjaro achieved a glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) of less than 5.7%, compared to just 20% of patients who used the Ozempic.
Mounjaro's effectiveness was also highlighted by the speed with which patients achieved adequate glycemic control. Those taking Mounjaro achieved an HbA1c below 7% four weeks earlier than those taking Ozempic.
In addition to controlling diabetes, tirzepatide is also being studied as a possible therapy for other conditions such as obesity, sleep apnea, fatty liver disease, chronic kidney disease, and heart failure.
Although Mounjaro has been approved for type 2 diabetes, its effectiveness in weight loss raises the possibility of its off-label use for this purpose.
Regarding side effects, Mounjaro presents mild to moderate symptoms, especially in the gastrointestinal system, such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, especially at the beginning of treatment. However, such effects tend to diminish over time.
On the other hand, the main challenge in popularizing Mounjaro is access to treatment, since the cost can be high, although its price has not yet been determined.
Novo Nordisk currently offers several versions of semaglutide medications, including Ozempic and Wegovy.
(Image: disclosure)
The availability of the new medicine through private health plans or in the public network will depend on additional assessments by regulatory authorities.
Experts believe that the approval of Mounjaro represents a significant advance in the diabetes treatment type 2 and offers hope to those battling such a chronic condition in Brazil.
Currently, more than 16.8 million people face uncontrolled blood sugar levels. With the approval of the new drug, it is expected that the health of this population will benefit greatly.
