New drug against type 2 diabetes is approved in Brazil

Release

Mounjaro medicine is available in an injectable pen

The National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) approved this Monday (25) a new medicine for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Mounjaro, from the pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly, has tirzepatide as its active ingredient, which acts to control blood sugar in adults with the disease, combined with diet and physical exercise. The medicine is available in injectable pen format.

According to Anvisa, studies show that tirzepatide significantly reduces the amount of glycated hemoglobin in the blood, which indicates sugar control. This reduction contributes to a reduced risk of microvascular disease, blindness, kidney failure and limb amputation.

“Another benefit of this drug is the favorable change in body weight (weight loss), since overweight and obesity contribute to the pathophysiology of DM2 [diabetes tipo 2]”, reports Anvisa publication

Tirzepatide functions as the first receptor for two hormones produced in the intestine: glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). This increases the amount of insulin produced by the pancreas, helping with blood glycemic control.

Type 2 diabetes

It is estimated that almost 463 million people in the world, aged 20 to 79, have diabetes. Of this total, type 2 diabetes is responsible for almost 90% of cases. In Brazil, there are almost 17 million adults with the disease.

The disease is characterized by insufficient production of insulin, a hormone that maintains glucose metabolism. It is one of the main causes of kidney failure, blindness, amputation and cardiovascular disease, complications that can lead to death.

According to projections, 578.4 million people will be living with diabetes in 2030, and more than 700 million in 2045. The increase is related to the growing trend of obesity in the population, unhealthy diet and lack of physical activity.

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