South Africa is facing severe supply constraints of several widely used birth control brands. Manufacturing disruptions at Aspen Pharmacare have triggered these stockouts. The Department of Health and the major pharmacy chain Clicks confirmed the disruption this week. The supply gap impacts both state-subsidised clinics and private pharmacies. Key oral contraceptives like Triphasil, Nordette, and Microval are currently difficult to…
Tag: Aspen Pharmacare
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Africa Vaccine Procurement Framework Promises Security
Africa CDC and Aspen Pharmacare say they are in advanced discussions about a long-term demand-and-supply alignment plan that could reshape how African countries buy vaccines made on the continent. As part of these talks, officials are considering the Africa Vaccine Procurement Framework to support the process. They announced the engagement on the sidelines of the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi.…
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Aspen Insulin Approval Advances Local Health Solutions
Aspen Pharmacare has secured a landmark regulatory win after the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (Sahpra) approved the commercial release of Aspen’s first locally manufactured human insulin batches. The products are cleared for sale in South Africa and other African markets, moving the project from planning into live supply for patients and health systems. Aspen produces the insulin at…
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Weight Management Spending Reshapes Household Budgets
South Africans are opening their wallets in pursuit of better health. But this is not only about occasional wellness treats. A new pattern is forming in everyday spending. Weight management is moving from a personal goal to a budget line item, according to new findings from Visa and Discovery Bank. The report shows that supplements and vitamins still account for…
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One Health Summit Signals Renewed French Support for SA
France has sent a clear diplomatic signal to South Africa through health diplomacy. President Emmanuel Macron invited a South African delegation to the recent One Health Summit in Lyon. The move follows uncertainty after reports that South Africa was disinvited from attending the G7 meeting scheduled for June in Évian-les-Bains, Haute-Savoie. South Africa’s Health Minister, Aaron Motsoaledi, attended alongside business…
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HIV Prevention Shot Lenacapavir: Aspen Warns of Demand Risks
South Africa’s leading generic drug manufacturer, Aspen Pharmacare, has issued a stark warning regarding the local production of a breakthrough medical treatment. The company asserts that local firms require guaranteed demand to manufacture the HIV prevention shot lenacapavir sustainably. South Africa was notably absent from the initial round of voluntary licences. In 2024, the patent holder, Gilead Sciences, awarded licences…
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Aspen Pharmacare Asset Disposals: Future Opportunities
Multinational pharmaceutical giant Aspen Pharmacare is prepared to further streamline its global operations. While the company has not officially hoisted a “for sale” sign, leadership has indicated it remains open to further Aspen Pharmacare asset disposals if the price is right. This strategic openness follows the landmark sale of its Asia-Pacific (APAC) division. The R26.5 billion transaction serves as a…
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Aspen Pharmacare Debt-Free: Strategic Shift To GLP-1 Injectables
Aspen Pharmacare has officially closed the chapter on its leveraged era. For the first time since the company was founded in 1997, CEO Stephen Saad has confirmed the group is debt-free. This significant milestone follows the massive sale of its Asia-Pacific operations (excluding China) to BGH Capital. The deal, concluded at the end of last year, was valued at A$2.37…
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Generic Semaglutide Set to Disrupt Global GLP‑1 Market
Aspen Pharmacare is gearing up to launch one of the world’s first generic semaglutide in Canada, capitalising on the recent loss of patent protection for Novo Nordisk’s blockbuster GLP‑1 weight‑loss injection. The move could be a pivotal moment for access and competition in an increasingly lucrative market. Canada’s early patent expiry of semaglutide has drawn global attention. Industry leaders see…
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Aspen Pharmacare Business Sale Sparks Investor Optimism
Aspen Pharmacare faced a turbulent 2025 marked by a severe earnings downgrade and shaken investor trust. In early 2025, Aspen announced that EBITDA for the financial year would be R2 billion below prior guidance. This surprise came just weeks after the company’s interim results, catching markets off guard and sending its share price plummeting by more than 30%. The earnings…