Ozempic-like medication for local market will require prescription, authorities to clamp down on misuse – Dr Anthony

An Ozempic-like medication is set for approval in Guyana, but Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony is warning against its misuse, noting that strict monitoring will be conducted.

Speaking on the Starting Point podcast on Sunday, Dr Anthony noted that in another two months, a “generic version of Ozempic” would be available on the local market.

Ozempic is an FDA-approved, once-weekly injection that improves blood sugar management in adults with type 2 diabetes and reduces cardiovascular risks.

It works by mimicking the GLP-1 hormone to regulate appetite and insulin, frequently causing weight loss as a side effect. Last year, the government revealed that it was in discussions with international partners to produce biosimilars or equivalent medications to popular, high-demand drugs like Ozempic.

According to the Health Minister, “one of the companies that are manufacturing Ozempic has applied for its registration here in Guyana. So, the dossier that they have submitted to the Food and Drug is currently being processed.”

Just last month, President Dr. Irfan Ali had revealed that the Government Analyst Food and Drug Department in Guyana is working on approving the use of Mounjaro, another once-weekly self-injectable medication for managing type 2 diabetes and chronic weight management in adults.

Nonetheless, the Health Minister cautioned that these types of drugs must be used with strict medical supervision.

“Ozempic and this line of medicines that have now become available, they have been helpful to a lot of patients, but it requires proper medical use, and it must be under medical supervision, because without that, then people can misuse it, and it can become a problem for them,” he expressed.

In fact, Dr Anthony noted that once the drug enters the market, extensive monitoring will be conducted to ensure it is used appropriately.

“This is not a non-prescription item, you have to get a prescription, somebody gotto supervise your care and I think people should stick to what these medications are intended for,” he emphasised.

“Once you bring a product onto the market, you have to also do surveillance to see how the product is being used, and that surveillance will tell you whether it’s used appropriately or inappropriately, and if it’s being used inappropriately, then relevant actions will have to be taken. So, we’ll be doing that monitoring as well,” he further explained.