Novo Nordisk, a leading Danish pharmaceutical company, launched its weight-loss drug Wegovy in South Africa, the company’s first foray into the African market and increased competition with Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro, which had been introduced eight months earlier. The launch aims to address the significant obesity issue in South Africa, where approximately 20 million adults are classified as overweight, yet fewer than 1% are receiving treatment, as BusinessLive reported. Sara Norcross, General Manager of Novo Nordisk South Africa, emphasised that \"one in two adults in South Africa is living with excess weight or obesity.\" She highlighted the importance of Wegovy as the first once-weekly GLP-1 receptor agonist for weight management in the region. Wegovy will be available in five different dose strengths, and its pricing will be announced next week. It will compete with Mounjaro, which has a starting price of R3,400 for four vials. Novo Nordisk, which is already selling Ozempic for diabetes in South Africa, plans to expand the availability of Wegovy to other African markets, including Egypt. This launch comes after a 30% drop in Novo’s shares due to a profit warning. However, the company’s strong presence in the U.S. market with Wegovy brings some optimism. In contrast, Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro, distributed through Aspen Pharmacare, is currently limited to diabetes treatment. With over a billion people globally facing obesity, 70% in low- and middle-income countries, Wegovy’s introduction could transform South Africa’s healthcare landscape, per web:1. The World Health Organisation’s endorsement of weight-loss drugs signals a shift in addressing obesity, though high costs may limit access. Novo’s expansion aims to bridge this gap, enhancing treatment availability.

Novo Nordisk launches weight-loss drug Wegovy in South Africa amid weight-loss drug race

Novo Nordisk, a Danish pharmaceutical company, has launched its weight-loss drug Wegovy in South Africa, marking its first entry into the African market. The drug, a once-weekly GLP-1 receptor agonist, is introduced to address the country's significant obesity crisis, where approximately 20 million adults are overweight and fewer than 1% receive treatment. The launch comes after a 30% drop in Novo Nordisk's share price due to a profit warning, though the company's strong performance in the U.S. market provides optimism. Wegovy will be available in five dose strengths, with pricing to be announced next week. It directly competes with Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro, which has a starting price of R3,400 for four vials and is currently limited to diabetes treatment. Novo Nordisk also plans to expand Wegovy’s availability to other African markets, including Egypt. The World Health Organization has endorsed weight-loss drugs as part of a broader shift in obesity treatment, though high costs may restrict access.