# Court Suspends Municipal Tirzepatide Program in Urupês A Brazilian city's obesity treatment initiative faces legal hurdles over medication patent rights. - **Source:** [Folha de S.Paulo](https://www.folha.uol.com.br) - **Published:** 2026-11-05 - **Topic:** [health](https://brifing.si/c/health) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/36b406de-6456-4ef4-9850-2b45e91cb8de ## Injunction Halts Local Program A São Paulo court issued a provisional decision suspending the supply of tirzepatide in Urupês. The city’s obesity treatment program, which provided free medication to patients via the public health system, was halted on October 20. This legal action forced the cancellation of scheduled injections for patients currently undergoing the treatment protocol. ## Patent Dispute Over Medication The lawsuit was initiated by Eli Lilly, the manufacturer of Mounjaro, which holds the Brazilian patent for tirzepatide until 2032. The pharmaceutical giant argued that the city’s use of compounded versions violates sanitary norms. They contend that compounding should be reserved for specific, individual needs rather than large-scale, standardized production batches. ## Cost-Driven Municipal Strategy Urupês officials defended the program, citing significant cost savings compared to the original drug. While a box of Mounjaro costs at least R$ 1,500, the municipality paid approximately R$ 900 per compounded vial. The city had already spent R$ 270,000 on the initiative, funded primarily through parliamentary amendments to support local patients. ## Strict Patient Eligibility Criteria The program, nicknamed 'Tirzepatodos,' required participants to meet rigorous health standards. Patients needed a BMI of at least 35 with one comorbidity, or 30 with two. Additionally, they had to prove socioeconomic vulnerability, undergo a six-month non-pharmacological treatment attempt, and maintain continuous monitoring by a multidisciplinary team of health professionals. ## Safety Concerns and Regulation Endocrinologists warn that large-scale compounding of injectables poses significant risks regarding raw material quality and storage conditions. The Brazilian Society of Endocrinology and Metabology highlighted that ensuring product integrity across all production stages is difficult outside of industrial settings. The court ruling specifically targets the contract for these compounded medications. ## Impact on Ongoing Treatment Approximately 400 patients were enrolled in the program since its inception in March. While the court did not ban the program itself, it prohibited the use of non-registered compounded drugs. The city is now exploring alternatives, including potentially purchasing the original medication, though this would drastically increase the program's overall financial requirements. ## Clinical Implications of Interruption Medical experts state that the abrupt cessation of the treatment does not trigger physical withdrawal symptoms. However, patients face a high risk of weight regain, similar to stopping the original Mounjaro medication. The municipality is currently studying how to maintain assistance for those who were nearing the end of their treatment cycles. ## Legal Precedent and Future The court imposed a daily fine of R$ 10,000 for any further acquisitions under the contested contract. This case underscores the tension between municipal efforts to expand access to expensive treatments and the intellectual property rights of pharmaceutical manufacturers. The city intends to file a new appeal to challenge the current judicial decision. ## Sources covering this story - https://redir.folha.com.br/redir/online/emcimadahora/rss091/*https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/equilibrioesaude/2026/11/justica-suspende-bolsa-mounjaro-em-programa-municipal-de-urupes-no-interior-paulista.shtml — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._