A new South African weight-loss drug – Mounjaro – is ready to undercut the big boy, Ozempic. Aspen Pharmacare this week celebrated receiving regulatory approval, effective from October 2025.
As such, the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) has approved once-weekly, prescription-only treatment with the South African weight-loss drug. However, the regulator insists the drug is only an adjunct for chronic weight management. It must be taken in conjunction with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.
SOUTH AFRICAN WEIGHT-LOSS DRUG
The precursor to the new South African weight-loss drug – Lilly’s Mounjaro – was launched back in December 2024. And was aimed primarily at the treatment of Type 2 diabetes sufferers in South Africa. However, South Africa suffers from one of the highest obesity rates on the African continent.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), South Africa has an overall adult obesity rate of 28.3%. This is when a person’s Body Mass Index (BMI) is 30 or above. And more than one-billion people worldwide suffer from obesity. So, more needs to be done to make drugs more affordable.
NOT OBESE BUT OVERWEIGHT
Moreover, while not technically obese according to BMI, South Africa also has a high overweight population. According to research, nearly two-thirds of South African women and one-third of men are considered overweight. This is a notable stat when you consider the poverty and ‘undernutrition’ of other portions of the population. Or the ‘double burden of malnutrition,’ as the WHO calls it.
Nevertheless, the new South African weight-loss drug could help turn the corner. According to BusinessTech, the drug will be available through the Kwikpen multidose injector device in South Africa. Currently, Ozempic is only available in South Africa as a Type 2 diabetes medication and is not registered for weight loss.
Likewise, Ozempic, the popular American drug, was initially designed to help manage blood sugar levels for Type 2 diabetes. However, by satiating hunger through hormones in the brain, it makes people feel full and reduces appetite. This made it ideal as a weight-loss aid.
Do you think a South African weight-loss drug is necessary to handle obesity in the county? Or is it merely a money maker for the pharmaceutical industry?
