Brazil expands access to modern diabetes drugs, including insulin glargina and Ozivy

The Brazilian Ministry of Health is rolling out insulin glargina, a long‑acting insulin, through the public SUS system for children, adolescents and seniors. More than 254,000 tubettes and 52,350 reusable pens have already been sent to 16 states, with a goal of nationwide distribution by the end of July. The state of Paraná is also expanding its program, having distributed nearly 20,000 pens to its health regions and planning additional deliveries.

In parallel, pharmaceutical company EMS has lowered the price of its domestically produced semaglutide Ozivy. Under the Vida + Leve program, three 1 mg pens can be purchased for R$ 999 (about R$ 10 per day), while the previous two‑pen option remains available. The discount scheme requires registration and a valid prescription, aiming to improve treatment continuity for type‑2 diabetes patients.

Both initiatives seek to broaden access to newer, once‑daily diabetes therapies and reduce barriers for patients across Brazil.