Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk will launch an authorised, lower-cost version of its Ozempic drug in South Africa this month, in partnership with healthcare company Acino, with the aim of broadening patient access to diabetes treatment.
The medicine, which uses the same active ingredient — semaglutide — found in Ozempic, is set to launch on 27 July and has been registered by South Africa’s Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) as the only authorised version of semaglutide in the country, the company said in a statement released on Thursday and cited by Reuters.
According to Novo Nordisk, this authorised version differs from generic, compounded, or biosimilar medicines in that it is manufactured by the company itself, using exactly the same active substance, the same manufacturing process, and the same delivery device as Ozempic, though it will be marketed under a different name.
‘Prices will be announced to the market next week, but I can confirm that Extensior will be cheaper than the branded semaglutide used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes,’ Sara Norcross, Managing Director of Novo Nordisk South Africa, told Reuters on Friday.
Norcross added that the company will continue to review its pricing policy with the objective of improving access for patients and healthcare professionals to new treatment options, while maintaining the same high quality standards.
Demand for GLP-1 class medicines, widely used in the treatment of diabetes and obesity, has increased significantly in South Africa over the past year, following the launch of Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro and, subsequently, Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy.
Unable to afford the cost of these medicines, some patients have turned to compounded versions, fuelling a parallel market exploited by various pharmacies and local producers. Regulatory authorities have sought to curb this practice due to safety concerns surrounding these products.
Earlier this year, Novo Nordisk reduced some Wegovy prices to improve affordability, but believes the launch of Extensior will allow for even broader access to treatment.
Distribution of the medicine will be handled by Acino, a Swiss pharmaceutical company belonging to the Abu Dhabi-based Arcera group, under a partnership aimed at expanding access to more affordable medicines in high-growth markets.
Source: Diário Económico
Original article: https://www.diarioeconomico.co.mz/2026/07/20/mundo/africa/africa-do-sul-novo-nordisk-reforca-oferta-de-medicamentos-para-diabetes/
