Focus on weight-loss drugs in Latin America

The increasing prevalence of obesity in Brazil and Mexico is encouraging its governments to consider certain brands of weight-loss drugs, according to research and advisory firm Decision Resources.

In Mexico, around half of surveyed physicians can access Swiss pharma major Roche’s (ROG: SIX) Xenical (orlistat) or generic equivalents, through hospital and/or state formularies. In Brazil, government guidelines for the prevention and treatment of obesity provide a framework for incorporation of safe and effective weight-loss drugs into formularies at the state and municipal levels.

The report, titled Obesity in Brazil and Mexico: Physician and Payer Perspectives on Prescribing Trends, Patient Access and Reimbursement Challenges Facing Current and Emerging Therapies, finds that demand is high for weight-loss therapies that can demonstrate acceptable cost-benefit ratios to national and institutional health technology assessment bodies.