Brazilian Retailers: Novo’s DTC Initiative in Brazil Appears Paused

Research evidence excerpt

Brazilian Retailers: Novo’s DTC Initiative in Brazil Appears Paused

Global Research

6 July 2026ab

Brazilian Retailers Equities

AmericasNovo’s DTC Initiative in Brazil Appears Paused

Consumer, Cyclical

Vinicius Strano, CFA

Positive Development for Pharmacies, Easing Disintermediation Concerns Analyst

Our channel checks suggest Novo Nordisk has temporarily suspended its NovoCare vinicius.strano@ubs.com

Farmácia platform, previously available at https://novocarefarmacia.com.br, +55-11-2767 6688

which is now displaying a maintenance notice. NovoCare was essentially a recent Isabella Lamas

DTC initiative by Novo, which allowed patients to purchase GLP-1 therapies online Analyst

through an experience integrated with Novo’s patient support ecosystem. isabella.lamas@ubs.com

+55-11-2767 6836

As a recap, the platform was launched on July 1, 2026, representing Novo Nordisk’s Lucca Biasi

first DTC initiative in Brazil, through a partnership with distributor AS Associate Analyst

Medicamentos. Less than a week after launch, however, the platform appears to lucca.biasi@ubs.com

have been suspended and we believe regulatory considerations may have played a +55-11-2767 6173

role. Brazilian regulation requires medicines sold online to be dispensed through a Pedro Perone

licensed physical pharmacy, while compliance with prescription retention, sanitary Associate Analyst

controls, product traceability, and pharmacist oversight creates structural hurdles pedro.perone@ubs.com

for pure DTC models. Furthermore, current regulations do not allow +55-11-2767 6007

pharmaceutical companies to sell their products directly to consumers through a

DTC channel.

We view this development as incrementally positive for pharmacy chains, as it