Articles
The Pharmaceutical Race for Ozempic and the Impact of Patents
Ozempic is a drug developed by Novo Nordisk, used to treat diabetes, which has recently become well-known after celebrities reported using the drug to lose weight, increasing demand for medicine.
The issue has generated intense public debate, with experts highlighting concerns such as the health risks associated with beauty standards and the drug’s scarcity for its target audience. Additionally, a pharmaceutical race has begun as companies prepare for the patent’s expiration and seek to adapt quickly to the rising demand.
Ozempic patents will expire between 2026 and 2032, depending on the patent regulations in each country. In Brazil, the patent is valid until 2026, according to law 9.279, which guarantees exclusivity to the inventor for up to 20 years. With the expiry of the patent, other pharmaceutical companies are preparing to produce Semaglutide, the drug’s active ingredient.
In addition to regulated competition, the company faces the growth of counterfeit products. The high demand has led other companies to sell items with the same name but with a different composition to the original, which puts the competitiveness guaranteed by the patent and the health of consumers at risk.
Camilla Sylvest, an executive at Novo Nordisk, pointed out that patents are essential to the company’s focus on innovation: “Without them, there would be no interest in developing new medicines. She also mentioned that, even with the opening up to competition, semaglutide will remain a relevant product to the company.
Patents are crucial for protecting pharmaceutical innovations. They guarantee exclusive rights to the holder, preventing third parties from producing, using, marketing, or importing the product without authorization. In addition to restricting direct competition for a set period, this right compensates for the high costs and risks involved in developing new products, encouraging innovation in research.
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