Leaders in emerging markets are under pressure. Economies are strained. Geopolitical tension is rising. Growth must be sustained. Yet policy debates often miss one core driver of national performance: health. In fact, healthcare investment drives growth by improving productivity and stability for these economies. A nation’s health is tightly linked to its economic strength. Health care is not a side…
Tag: pharmaceuticals
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1.4% SEP Increase Impacts Pharmaceutical Investment
The pharmaceutical sector has issued a strident, urgent plea to the Health Department. They are imploring officials to immediately reconsider the newly gazetted 1.4% SEP increase in the maximum Single Exit Price (SEP) for medicines in 2026. The adjustment, set at a mere 1.47%, is a significant blow to the industry. They had anticipated an increase more than double that…
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Illegal weight loss injections: The rising black market crisis
The quest for rapid weight loss in South Africa has birthed a dangerous shadow economy. For many, acquiring potent GLP-1 agonists no longer requires a clinical consultation. Instead, it involves a few WhatsApp messages and a payment to a stranger. This burgeoning trade in illegal weight loss injections highlights a desperate intersection of public health needs and economic barriers. As…
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Hetero Price Collusion Probe and Its Implications
The Competition Commission has confirmed it is actively investigating the South African subsidiary of the Indian generic drug manufacturer Hetero. They are looking into potential price collusion. This significant probe centres on the procurement of crucial HIV medication. Specifically, the combination pill tenofovir, lamivudine, and dolutegravir (TLD) is under review. Most HIV patients in the country take this three-in-one regimen.…
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US Drug Prices Under Trump’s New Pharma Deals
Americans spend more on prescription drugs than any other nation. This fact is driven not just by volume but by staggering costs. Unlike in Europe, the US government has historically refrained from directly intervening in price setting. While modest changes under then-President Joe Biden offered some relief for seniors, his successor, Donald Trump, has vowed to aggressively slash US drug…
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Obesity Drug Deal: Trump Cuts Prices for Patients
US President Donald Trump has announced a landmark deal with drugmakers Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, set to significantly reduce the price of hugely popular obesity drugs for millions of Americans. The agreement, unveiled at the White House, will slash costs for injectable treatments like Wegovy and Zepbound, as well as two forthcoming oral medications. The deal aims to save…
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Aspen Targets Mounjaro Expansion in Africa Following Approval
Aspen targeting Mounjaro expansion will bring the high-demand drug Mounjaro to Sub-Saharan Africa. Mounjaro is also known as tirzepatide. Launches across the continent are anticipated in 2026. CEO Stephen Saad confirmed this plan. He announced it in his annual letter to shareholders. The move follows major success in South Africa. It also comes after a new regulatory approval. This approval…
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Adcock Ingram Delisting After Natco Acquisition
Pharmaceutical giant Adcock Ingram has confirmed its delisting from the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) on 11 November 2025. The move marks the end of its 17-year run as a public company. This follows the finalisation of a R4.2 billion acquisition scheme by the Indian-based Natco Pharma. The company announced that it had fulfilled or waived all conditions precedent for the…
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Spar Acquires Aptekor Group in Retail Healthcare Expansion
Spar has acquired the Aptekor Group, a pharmaceutical wholesaler, in a strategic move to expand the retailer’s healthcare footprint. This is the foundational step in its ambition to create a national pharmaceutical distribution network for its Pharmacy at Spar banner. The acquisition firmly positions Spar to compete more aggressively within South Africa’s healthcare market. It provides the group with a…
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Adcock Ingram Takeover Gets Green Light from Shareholders
Shareholders in Adcock Ingram, the renowned South African pharmaceutical company, have decisively approved a takeover offer from Indian drugmaker Natco Pharma. This paves the way for the company to delist from the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) after 16 years. At a general meeting last week, shareholders voted 98.66% of shares in favour of the offer. The deal will see Natco…
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FDA Generic Drug Review Boosts US Drug Manufacturing
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced the launch of a new pilot programme. This programme aims to accelerate the review process for generic drugs. Companies research, develop, and manufacture these drugs entirely within the United States. The initiative aims to incentivise pharmaceutical companies to onshore their operations. It strengthens the domestic supply chain and reduces America’s heavy…