The National Authority for Medicines and Health Products announced on Monday that a medication for type 2 diabetes mellitus will no longer be marketed in Portugal.
“AstraZeneca AB has communicated that it will permanently cease marketing Bydureon, exenatide, prolonged-release injectable suspension, in Portugal for commercial reasons starting March 2025,” reads a note published on the website.
According to experts, this medication “is indicated for adults, adolescents, and children aged 10 years and older with type 2 diabetes mellitus to improve glycemic control in combination with other hypoglycemic medications, including basal insulin, when the therapy in use, along with diet and exercise, does not provide adequate glycemic control.”
Infarmed also provides some recommendations regarding the cessation of marketing of the prolonged-release injectable suspension.
For doctors:
– New treatments with this medication should not be initiated;
– Timely replacement of exenatide should be promoted for patients currently being treated with this medication. For support in choosing an alternative therapy, it is suggested to consult the guidelines of the National Commission for Pharmacy and Therapeutics regarding the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus.
For pharmacists:
– They should advise patients being treated with exenatide to contact their doctor;
– They should also reassure patients who cannot immediately contact their doctor, given that the medication will still be available for a few months.
For patients:
– They should consult their doctor as soon as possible so that, if necessary, an alternative therapy can be prescribed, as well as all necessary instructions to facilitate the substitution.
According to the authority, the use of Bydureon Bcise medication with English labeling has been exceptionally authorized to ensure a gradual transition to other therapies. These packages will be accompanied by an information leaflet in Portuguese. “The registration number, price, and reimbursement by the National Health Service for this presentation will be the same as the medication authorized in Portugal,” they explain.
