Novo Nordisk proposes 59% discount for semaglutide in Brazil's SUS

Novo Nordisk, the maker of the obesity drugs Ozempic and Wegovy, has submitted a new request to Brazil's National Commission for the Incorporation of Technologies (Conitec) to include semaglutide in the Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS). The proposal offers a 59% discount, with reported prices of R$ 396.88 per dose for 0.25‑1.0 mg, R$ 594.49 for 1.7 mg and R$ 764.64 for 2.4 mg. The company says the reduced price meets the Ministry of Health's cost‑effectiveness criteria and targets patients with obesity who have already suffered a heart attack, a group considered at higher cardiovascular risk.

The plan follows a prior attempt in August 2025 that was rejected because the projected five‑year cost to the public system could reach R$ 3.7 billion. Novo Nordisk notes that the drug’s patent exclusivity has ended, new manufacturers have entered the market, and competition has driven prices down. Leonardo Bia, vice‑president of Corporate Affairs for Novo Nordisk Brazil, said the initiative aims to expand access, improve efficiency and lessen the burden on intensive‑care units. The Ministry of Health is preparing a practical trial to assess the drug’s impact within SUS.

If approved, the inclusion could affect up to 60 million Brazilians living with obesity, potentially reducing cardiovascular events and associated treatment costs such as strokes and cardiac surgeries.