{"id":866804,"date":"2026-07-20T13:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-20T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/?p=866804"},"modified":"2026-07-20T12:58:30","modified_gmt":"2026-07-20T10:58:30","slug":"major-international-brand-officially-launching-in-south-africa-next-week","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/lifestyle\/866804\/major-international-brand-officially-launching-in-south-africa-next-week\/","title":{"rendered":"Major international brand officially launching in South Africa next week"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Novo Nordisk, the original manufacturer of the popular diabetic medication Ozempic, is launching its only authorised copy in South Africa on 27 July 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An authorised copy is a duplicate of the original brand that has been registered by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This authorised copy features the same SAHPRA-registered active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), manufacturing process, device, and benefits as the original semaglutide, but is said to be sold at a more affordable price.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Novo Nordisk South Africa has partnered with Acino, a part of Arcera, to launch this product and further increase patient access across the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The pharmaceutical firm Novo Nordisk, which specialises in diabetes care and weight management, will release its authorised semaglutide copy on July 27, 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This launch aims to provide more affordable, advanced treatment options for patients living with type 2 diabetes in South Africa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Registered with SAHPRA, this authorised copy is the only semaglutide duplicate in South Africa, manufactured using the same active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), manufacturing process, and device as the original Semaglutide (Ozempic). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unlike generic, compounded, or biosimilar products, the pharmaceutical company said that the authorised copy is an exact duplicate of the original molecule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This copy is produced by the same manufacturer and is subject to the safety and efficacy data requirements of regulatory authorities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This, according to Novo Nordisk, should ensure confidence for both patients and healthcare professionals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The manufacturing process and production lines used are identical to those of the original. It also utilises the same administration device. This copy provides the same expected benefits as the original, but at a more affordable price.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“We are proud to introduce an affordable, authorised semaglutide copy to help broaden access for patients across South Africa,” said Novo Nordisk South Africa General Manager Sara Norcross.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“This launch reflects our continued commitment to driving change in the prevention and treatment of serious chronic diseases,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Diabetes remains one of the leading causes of death in South Africa. Recent estimates from the International Diabetes Federation indicate that 7.2% of South African adults are living with diabetes, which represents over 2.3 million people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Acino is fully aligned with Novo Nordisk’s commitment to improving patient well-being through increased access to this important treatment,” said Acino Africa Regional Managing Director John Norman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Acino said that this collaboration aligns with their long-term goal of expanding access to high-quality medicines where patients need them most.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Compounded products pulled off shelves<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
iDexis Semaglutide and Tirzepatide medicines. Source: SAHPRA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) recently issued an urgent recall of compounded GLP-1 medicines. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These products include compounded versions of well-known weight-loss and diabetes medications, such as Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The manufacturer of the recalled medicines is iDexis, which operates as Sentra Pharmacy in Pretoria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SAHPRA, along with the South African Pharmacy Council (SAPC) and the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA), has now issued a warning to the public, pharmacies, and medical practitioners. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Doctors and pharmacists have been advised against the continued use, prescription, or dispensing of the recalled products, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  • iDEXIS Semaglutide<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • iDEXIS Tirzepatide<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • iDEXIS Semaglutide\/Tirzepatide combination products<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    \u201cThe continued use, prescription and dispensing of these products pose a severe risk to patients\u2019 safety and\/or users,\u201d said SAHPRA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    SAHPRA said that any healthcare professional found to have dispensed, prescribed or kept stock of the recalled products will face disciplinary action in accordance with applicable legislation, including the Medicines and Related Substances Act, 101 of 1965.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The regulators said that in a Class I, Type A Recall, SAHPRA determined that iDEXIS Semaglutide, iDEXIS Tirzepatide and iDEXIS Semaglutide\/Tirzepatide pose a serious safety risk to patients. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    A more affordable authorised copy of the original Ozempic is coming to South Africa.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":127,"featured_media":866817,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_sma_x_autopost_status":"posted","_sma_x_autopost_error":"","_sma_x_post_id":"2079159642706284891","_sma_x_attempts":1,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9876],"tags":[25853,23803,19743],"class_list":["post-866804","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-lifestyle","tag-novo-nordisk","tag-ozempic","tag-the-south-african-health-products-regulatory-authority-sahpra"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/866804","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/127"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=866804"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/866804\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":866838,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/866804\/revisions\/866838"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/866817"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=866804"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=866804"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=866804"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}