By Nqobile Dludla
JOHANNESBURG, March 4 (Reuters) – Aspen Pharmacare aims to secure sub-Saharan African approval for Eli Lilly’s blockbuster weight-loss drug Monjaro early this year, its CEO said on Wednesday, capitalizing on growing regional demand for the obesity treatment.
South Africa-based Aspen’s push to register Monjaro across the region marks its bid to become a key manufacturing and distribution partner for global drugmakers seeking one of the last large untapped markets for GLP-1 weight-loss therapy.
GLP-1 therapies are not yet widely available on the continent, presenting both growth potential and a test of how quickly such drugs can reach low-income countries.
The registration of KwikPen (a pre-filled multi-injection device) in South Africa has given us the opportunity to register the product in sub-Saharan Africa, and we expect to register early this year,” CEO Stephen Saad told investors a day after reporting its earnings.
Monjaro driving demand for GLP-1 drugs
Monjaro, which launched in South Africa in late 2024, has fueled a surge in demand for the weight-loss drug, pushing the GLP-1 market to about 2.2 billion rand ($133.64 million) and still growing.
Market value has tripled in 18 months, with Monjaro’s share doubling from 21% at the end of April 2025 to 52% at the end of January, largely helped by regulatory approval for long-term weight management, Saad added.
He expects Monjaro sales to exceed 1.3 billion rand ($78.97 million) by June.
“It will be the fastest brand to reach one billion rand sales in the South African private market.” he said.
In South Africa, US drugmaker Lilly competes with Denmark’s Novo Nordisk, which makes Vigovi and Ozympic and has hinted at expansion plans in Africa following the launch of South Africa’s Vigovi.
($1 = 16.4625 Rand)
(Reporting by Nqobile Dludla; Editing by Bernadette Baum)
(tags translation)South Africa
