India’s Sun Pharmaceutical Industries has received approval from South Africa’s health regulator to manufacture and sell a generic version of semaglutide, the active ingredient in Novo Nordisk’s top-selling diabetes and obesity drugs.

The approval from the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority makes South Africa the second market, after India, where Sun Pharma has secured clearance for a generic semaglutide injection, the company said in a statement.

Sun Pharma said it plans to launch the product in South Africa in the coming days. The drug will be sold as a pre-filled, multi-dose injectable pen in two strengths — 2 mg and 4 mg — for once-weekly use.

Market Impact

The entry of generics also poses a challenge to U.S. company Eli Lilly, which has launched blockbuster diabetes and obesity drugs in South Africa as well.

South Africa’s weight-loss drug market is dominated by Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro and Novo’s Ozempic and Wegovy, although the products face growing competition from compounded versions of the medicines.

Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.