Illegal weight-loss medicines are facing increased scrutiny as pharmaceutical manufacturers demand stronger law enforcement and regulators prepare tighter rules governing compounded obesity treatments. The Pharmaceutical Task Group (PTG) has called for prosecutions against individuals and businesses selling unregistered medicines. Meanwhile, the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) and South African Pharmacy Council are developing updated compounding standards. The interventions…
Tag: Novo Nordisk
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Extensior Launch Cuts Ozempic Cost By 15%
Novo Nordisk will launch Extensior in South Africa on 31 July. The medicine contains the same active ingredient as Ozempic but will cost about 15% less. The lower price could reduce monthly expenses for patients who pay for semaglutide themselves. However, the discount is unlikely to persuade medical schemes to expand funding for the costly diabetes treatment. Extensior will be…
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Extensior South Africa Launch Targets Lower-Cost Access
Novo Nordisk is preparing to launch a lower-cost, authorised version of Ozempic in South Africa. The Extensior South Africa launch aims to improve access to regulated semaglutide treatment for people with type 2 diabetes. Extensior is scheduled to become available from 27 July. Novo Nordisk has partnered with pharmaceutical company Acino to distribute the medicine nationwide. The treatment contains semaglutide,…
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Sun Pharma’s Generic Semaglutide Gets SA Approval
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries has received regulatory approval to manufacture and sell a generic semaglutide injection in South Africa. The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority, or SAHPRA, approved the medicine for adults with inadequately controlled type 2 diabetes. Semaglutide is the active ingredient in Novo Nordisk’s diabetes medicine Ozempic. It is also used in the company’s Wegovy weight-loss treatment. The…
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US Prescription Drug Spending to Top $560bn in 2026
US prescription drug spending will top $560 billion in 2026, according to current projections. This would represent an 8.2% increase from the previous year. Growing demand for obesity and diabetes treatments is partly driving this rise. These include a new generation of GLP-1 medicines. Projections show prescription medicines outpacing all other major categories of healthcare spending in the US. Their…
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iDexis Semaglutide Ban Ordered By High Court
The High Court has temporarily stopped pharmacy group iDexis from manufacturing, supplying and marketing weight-loss medicines containing semaglutide. The iDexis semaglutide ban follows an application by Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk. The company manufactures Ozempic and Wegovy. Semaglutide is the active ingredient in both medicines. Ozempic is registered as a treatment for diabetes. Wegovy is approved for weight management. The…
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Semaglutide Compounding Dispute: Novo Nordisk Heads To Court
Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk is taking compounding pharmacy iDexis to the Pretoria High Court. The highly anticipated legal battle will take place on June 10. The case focuses on the unauthorised scale production of semaglutide-based weight-loss injections. Novo Nordisk wants the court to stop iDexis from manufacturing, advertising, and distributing these products. The global firm alleges that iDexis is…
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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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Generic Semaglutide Pricing Could Disrupt Global Markets
New research reveals that manufacturers could sell generic versions of Novo Nordisk’s blockbuster drugs, Ozempic and Wegovy, for less than $3 a month. This study highlights a massive gap between current list prices and actual production costs. It suggests a future where powerful weight-loss treatments are accessible to billions. The Massive Gap In Generic Semaglutide Pricing Researchers at the University…
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Eli Lilly 2026 Guidance Signals Momentum In Obesity Care
Eli Lilly has forecast 2026 profit and revenue above Wall Street expectations, reinforcing how fast the obesity market is reshaping Big Pharma growth plans. The recent Eli Lilly 2026 Guidance reflects the company’s confidence in strong future performance. The company also beat estimates for fourth-quarter earnings, helped by strong demand for its injectable weight-loss and diabetes medicines. For Q4, Lilly…
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Wegovy Weight-Loss Pill Offers Injectables Alternative
Novo Nordisk has unveiled promising new findings from its OASIS 4 phase 3 trial. The findings suggest that a daily Wegovy weight-loss pill could serve as a highly effective alternative to the widely used injectable formulation. The pharmaceutical giant’s latest data indicates that the oral version of the drug may offer a more accessible route for patients managing obesity. This…