Demand for Mounjaro, a weight-loss drug similar to Ozempic, has exploded in South Africa, with sales expected to exceed R1.3 billion in the year ending June, according to Aspen Pharmacare CEO Stephen Saad.
The South African pharmaceutical giant plans to register the drug in several sub-Saharan countries as early as this year, targeting a wider African approval for the drug.
Mounjaro Sales Skyrocket
Aspen’s sales of Mounjaro have taken off exponentially, helping drive growth in the country’s market for weight-loss drugs, with the local GLP-1 market tripling in value over the past 18 months to reach about R2.2 billion.
Mounjaro now accounts for more than half of the market, helped by regulatory approval for chronic weight management, and is expected to become the quickest brand to reach a billion rand sales in the South African private market.
GLP-1 Weight-Loss Drugs
GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, which include Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro, mimic a hormone that suppresses appetite and have become some of the most sought-after drugs globally as obesity rates rise.
According to World Health Organization, obesity is a major risk factor for chronic diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain types of cancer.
Here are some key facts about the weight-loss drug market:
- The global market for weight-loss drugs is projected to reach $100 billion by 2030.
- South Africa’s market features competition from Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, which produces Ozempic and Wegovy.
- Mounjaro is manufactured by US drugmaker Eli Lilly and distributed in South Africa by Aspen.
Aspen believes the region represents a largely untapped opportunity for the rapidly expanding class of medications, and the surge in demand highlights the growing interest in weight-loss treatments across Africa, where these drugs remain relatively scarce.
For more information on weight-loss treatments, visit Mayo Clinic.
