GLP-1 drugs have moved fast. They started as treatments for type-2 diabetes. Now they are a global health and consumer trend. In South Africa, medicines such as Ozempic and other semaglutide-based therapies are attracting wider attention. The reason is simple. These drugs reduce appetite and support weight management. They also sit within a bigger shift towards preventive health. Some researchers…
Tag: semaglutide
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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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Obesity as a Chronic Disease: SA Pushes for Treatment Access
South Africa’s healthcare sector is stepping up calls to treat obesity as a chronic disease rather than a cosmetic concern. Clinicians and industry leaders say the shift is urgent. Obesity is rising fast. It also drives long-term costs across the health system. Globally, more than 1 billion people live with obesity. That figure is forecast to reach 1.91 billion by…
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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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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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GLP-1 Weight Loss Drugs Reshape Obesity Care In South Africa
South Africa’s fight against obesity has entered a decisive phase, driven by a surge in the medicalisation of treatment through GLP-1 weight loss drugs. In early 2026, two major medications, Mounjaro (tirzepatide) and Wegovy (semaglutide), have received key regulatory approvals, marking a new chapter in primary healthcare. With nearly 4.5 million South African adults living with obesity, the shift comes…
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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…
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Surge in Illicit Medicines Threatens Public Health
South Africa is at a critical crossroads in its fight against a rising tide of illicit, substandard, and falsified medicines. These pose a severe threat to public health. The influx is particularly alarming in relation to GLP-1 agonists, the popular class of medicines developed to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity. In response to this escalating crisis, the South African…
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Medicines seized amidst surge in demand for Ozempic copies
New Zealand customs officials recently seized 14 injectable pens labelled as Fitaro and Orsema – semaglutide-based medications manufactured by Incepta Pharmaceuticals, a drugmaker from Bangladesh. These drugs, meant to provide an affordable alternative to Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic, underscore a surge in demand for lower-cost versions of the popular diabetes and weight loss medication. Ozempic and its anti-obesity counterpart, Wegovy, contain…