Mounjaro: see what Brazilians want to know about the medicine

With sales starting this week, Mounjaro is one of the most eagerly awaited drugs by Brazilians. The pen, developed by pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly, is indicated for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and is considered the main competitor of Ozempic , from Novo Nordisk.

Some pharmacies have even started pre-selling the product online, such as the Drogarias Pacheco and Drogaria São Paulo chains, part of the DPSP Group. The monthly treatment costs from R$1,400, a price valid for patients enrolled in Lilly Melhor Para Você, Lilly's Patient Support Program.

Mounjaro was approved by the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) in Brazil in September 2023 for the treatment of type 2 diabetes . Since then, expectations for the drug to reach pharmacies have been high.

From September 2023 to April 2025, searches for the drug increased on the internet, according to a survey conducted by CNN on Google Trends. See the graph below:

The five sub-regions that searched the most for Mounjaro over the period analyzed were Goiás, Tocantins, Distrito Federal, Mato Grosso do Sul and Pernambuco, according to Google Trends .

See below the main research related to the drug during the period.

“Poor man’s Mounjaro”

“ Poor man’s Mounjaro ” is a term that has become popular on social media to describe natural and cheaper alternatives to the medicine developed by Eli Lilly. This is the case of fibers and dietary supplements sold with the claim of helping with weight loss, but without proper scientific evidence of their effectiveness.

One of the most popular examples is psyllium, a grain rich in protein, minerals and other nutrients that is commonly used to improve gut health. Although there is evidence that the ingredient can help prolong satiety, it is not able to provide the same effects as medications such as Mounjaro and Ozempic .

Mounjaro Pen

Mounjaro is an injectable medication in the form of a single-dose autoinjector pen. It is currently available in two dosages: 2.5 mg and 5 mg, which correspond to the initial doses of treatment.

In four simple administration steps – cap, position, unlock and press/hold – patients can self-inject using a button and then confirm that the dose has been delivered. After use, the pen should be discarded in the sharps container.

Mounjaro Kwikpen

The Mounjaro Kwikpen is a type of multidose prefilled pen for single patient use. According to the Eli Lilly Canada website , the pen contains four fixed doses and is to be injected in a single weekly injection.

Currently, Mounjaro Kwikpen is not yet available in Brazil. Its difference is that it is multi-dose, while the one sold in Brazil is single-dose.

Natural Mounjaro Recipe

In the same vein as the “poor man’s Mounjaro”, some posts on social media and the internet suggest that “miracle” recipes, made with ingredients such as psyllium or other sources of fiber, can lead to the same slimming effect as medication. However, once again, there is no scientific evidence regarding their effectiveness and safety.

How much does Mounjaro cost?

Mounjaro prices may vary depending on the dose. When purchased in pharmacies, the maximum prices for the medicine will be R$1,907.29 (2.5 mg) and R$2,384.34 (5 mg) , considering the 18% rate of the Tax on Circulation of Goods and Services (ICMS).

For participants in the Lilly Better For You Program, prices may be lower, reaching a maximum of R$1,406.75 (2.5 mg) and R$1,759.64 (5 mg) in e-commerce and R$1,506.76 (2.5 mg) and R$1,859.65 (5 mg) in physical stores.

Mounjaro reduces risk of prediabetes turning into diabetes by 94%