Aspen Pharmacare targets Mounjaro approval in sub-Saharan Africa as early as 2026
GLP-1 market in South Africa has reached 2.2 billion rand and continues to grow
Mounjaro's market share in South Africa has more than doubled to 52%
Aspen expects Mounjaro sales to exceed 1.3 billion rand in the coming year
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Aspen Pharmacare, the South African drugmaker, announced on March 4, 2026, that its CEO Stephen Saad aims to secure sub-Saharan African approval for Eli Lilly's blockbuster weight-loss drug Mounjaro as early as this year, capitalizing on soaring regional demand for obesity treatments and positioning the company as a key manufacturing and distribution partner in one of the last major untapped markets for GLP-1 treatments. The registration in South Africa of the KwikPen, a pre-filled multi-injection device, has provided Aspen with the opportunity to extend Mounjaro's registration throughout sub-Saharan Africa, with expectations that approvals could come as early as 2026. GLP-1 treatments remain largely unavailable across the African continent, presenting both significant growth potential and a test of how quickly such innovative drugs can reach lower-income countries where obesity rates are rising. Mounjaro, which was launched in South Africa in late 2024, has already driven substantial demand for weight-loss drugs, pushing the GLP-1 market to approximately 2.2 billion rand ($133.64 million) and still growing, with the market's value having tripled in just 18 months. In South Africa, the U.S. drugmaker Lilly faces competition from Denmark's Novo Nordisk, which produces Wegovy and Ozempic and has indicated plans to expand into Africa following its South Africa launch of Wegovy, highlighting the increasing international focus on the African pharmaceutical market.
American pharmacist, Union Army officer, businessman, philanthropist (1838–1898)
Eli Lilly (July 8, 1838 – June 6, 1898) was an American Union Army officer, pharmacist, chemist, and businessman who founded Eli Lilly and Company.
Lilly enlisted in the Union Army during the American Civil War and recruited a company of men to serve with him in the 18th Independent Battery Indiana ...
Aspen Pharmacare Holdings Limited is a public multinational pharmaceutical company headquartered in uMhlanga, South Africa. Founded in 1997, it listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) in 1998, and purchased South African Druggists in 1999 before expanding into international markets. Currentl...
The Sahara (, ) is a desert spanning across North Africa. With an area of 9,200,000 square kilometres (3,600,000 sq mi), it is the largest hot desert in the world and the third-largest desert overall, smaller only than the deserts of Antarctica and the northern Arctic.
The name "Sahara" is derived f...
Tirzepatide is an antidiabetic medication used to treat type 2 diabetes and for weight loss. Tirzepatide is administered via subcutaneous injections (under the skin). In the United States, it is sold under the brand name Mounjaro for diabetes treatment and Zepbound for weight loss and treatment of o...
try{ var _=i o; . if(!_||_&&typeof _==="object"&&_.expiry Futures lower, oil rises as Iran conflict enters fifth day - what’s moving markets Oil prices surge higher as conflict threatens supply; Goldman lifts forecasts South Korean stock trading temporarily halted as KOSPI slides over 11% Goldman lifts oil price forecast amid Hormuz disruptions, lower inventories (South Africa Philippines Nigeria) Drugmaker Aspen targets Mounjaro approval in sub-Saharan Africa this year By Stock Markets Published 03/04/2026, 04:38 AM Updated 03/04/2026, 04:42 AM Drugmaker Aspen targets Mounjaro approval in sub-Saharan Africa this year 0 LLY -1.01% NVO -2.91% APNJ 3.02% By Nqobile Dludla JOHANNESBURG, March 4 - Aspen Pharmacare aims to secure sub‑Saharan African approval for Eli Lilly’s blockbuster weight‑loss drug Mounjaro as early as this year, its CEO said on Wednesday, capitalising on soaring regional demand for obesity treatments. South Africa-based Aspen’s push to register Mounjaro across the region signals its bid to become a key manufacturing and distribution partner for global drugmakers eyeing one of the last major untapped markets for GLP‑1 weight‑loss treatments. GLP‑1 treatments are not yet widely available in the continent, offering both growth potential and a test of how quickly such drugs can reach lower‑income countries. The registration in South Africa "of the KwikPen (a pre-filled multi-injection device) gave us an opportunity now to register the product across sub-Saharan Africa, and we expect registrations from as early as this calendar year," CEO Stephen Saad told investors a day after reporting its earnings. MOUNJARO DRIVING DEMAND FOR GLP-1 DRUGS Mounjaro, launched in South Africa late in 2024, has driven surging demand for weight-loss drugs, pushing the GLP-1 market to about 2.2 billion rand ($133.64 million) and still growing, Saad said. The market’s value has tripled in 18 months, with Mounjaro’s share more than doubling to 52% at the end of January from 21...
