A recent Funcional study of Brazil's corporate health plans shows modern diabetes medicines—SGLT2 inhibitors such as dapagliflozin and empagliflozin, and GLP‑1 agonists including semaglutide and tirzepatide (marketed as Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus, Jardiance, Forxiga, Mounjaro)—now account for 62.7% of spending on diabetes drugs, reflecting a move toward therapies that also target cardiovascular health and weight management. The analysis, covering May 2025‑April 2026, found that about 22% of beneficiaries use diabetes medication, and many simultaneously treat hypertension and high cholesterol, indicating increasingly integrated chronic‑care regimens.
Separate research from the University of Pennsylvania, published in The BMJ, indicates that patients on GLP‑1 drugs have a higher incidence of alopecia. Two to three years after treatment initiation, the risk of a new alopecia diagnosis was 37% higher than with SGLT2 inhibitors and 68% higher than with DPP‑4 inhibitors. Reported rates were low overall—roughly three to nine cases per 1,000 person‑years—but the increased relative risk was noted across GLP‑1 agents, with tirzepatide showing a slightly higher risk than semaglutide. Studies also suggest the hair loss is often reversible and may be linked to weight loss rather than the drug itself alone.
Entities
Brazil · GLP‑1 medications · Ricardo Moraes · SGLT2 inhibitors · University of Pennsylvania