The latest from Brazilian Pharma, including the approval of home grown cannabis for medical use, Cellera Farma’s partnership with Ferring, a considerable increase in demand for oncology drugs, and a dire diabetes prediction.
Brazil court approves home grown cannabis for medical use (ABC News)
A top court in Brazil on Tuesday authorized three patients to grow cannabis for medical treatment, a decision that is likely to be applied nationwide in similar cases.
A five-judge panel of the country’s Superior Court of Justice unanimously agreed that the three patients can grow cannabis and extract its oil for use in pain relief. Brazilian law currently limits the medical use of marijuana-derived products to imported goods.
Brazil’s health ministry is yet to regulate home cultivation of cannabis for medical use, which puts anyone doing this at the risk of arrest.
NC Group, owner of EMS, launches new company Multilab Farma (Valor Econômico)
Grupo NC – one of the largest pharmaceutical corporations in Latin America and owner of EMS – has merged two of its laboratories, Nova Química Genéricos and Multilab Marcas, into a new company, Multilab Farma. According to the group, the reorganization aims above all to expand the capillarity and distribution of its products in pharmacies.
Cellera Farma and Swiss company Ferring announce partnership to launch innovative drug in Brazil (Sindusfarma)
The Brazilian pharmaceutical company Cellera Farma, and Ferring, a Swiss company that works in reproductive medicine, maternal health, gastroenterology and urology, have just signed a partnership, combining their skills for the development of an innovative drug in the country.
The business model provides for the transfer of know-how, development, production and commercialisation of a drug from the gastroenterology portfolio. It is a drug indicated for patients who suffer from anal fissure, a diagnosis with few therapeutic options in Brazil today.
For Cellera Farma, says President Omilton Visconde Júnior, it is strategic to enter a market with a favorable competitive scenario, where a medical need is not currently met for diagnosis. “Seeking alliances is the core of the Cellera business and the partnership with Ferring in the DLG project strengthens our position in gastroenterology, adding value to our business”, said Omilton Visconde Júnior.
Diabetes will affect 21.5 million Brazilians by 2030 (Guia da Farmácia)
Brazil is the 5th country with the highest incidence of patients diagnosed with diabetes in the world, with more than 16.8 million cases in people between 20 and 79 years old, behind only China, India, the United States and Pakistan, according to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF). The estimated incidence of the disease in 2030 will reach 21.5 million Brazilians.
Sale of cancer drugs grows 30 percent in one year (PFarma)
A survey carried out by InterPlayers shows that there was an average increase of 30 percent in the sale of cancer drugs in the period from February/2021 to January/2022 compared to the immediately previous 12 months. The state that most contributed to this increase in this type of medication was the Federal District, with an increase of 160 percent, followed by Espírito Santo (131 percent) and Rio Grande do Sul (19 percent).
Lula retains lead over Bolsonaro in Brazil opinion poll ahead of election (Reuters)
Former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is retaining his lead over incumbent Jair Bolsonaro ahead of Brazil’s October presidential election, according to a Datafolha opinion poll released on Thursday. Lula drew 47 percent support in the opinion poll against Bolsonaro’s 28 percent. In May, Lula’s lead was 48 percent to 27 percent.
In a potential second-round runoff between the rivals, left-leaning leader Lula now has a 23 percentage-point lead over right wing Bolsonaro, down from 25 points in May, the survey showed.
This week, Lula presented an official government plan outlining priorities if elected, including a new fuel pricing policy, removing a cap on government spending, and dramatically reining in deforestation.
