Novo Nordisk has announced that it will be launching a cheaper, registered version of its diabetes treatment Ozempic in South Africa at a discount of 15%, but medical aids are unlikely to expand their coverage to include this, reports Business Day.
Although it will be the first registered alternative to Ozempic in this country – only one generic rival has so far been approved by the regulator, and is not yet available – Discovery Health, which typically leads the industry on decisions about coverage for costly new treatments, said there are no plans to change the eligibility criteria for Discovery Health Medical Scheme (DHMS) members.
“DHMS regularly reviews its funding position on GLP-1 medicines as clinical evidence evolves and lower-cost alternatives become available. But while a 15% price reduction is a positive development … it is unlikely to be sufficient to justify broader … funding at this stage due to the high prevalence of type 2 diabetes,” said Discovery Health chief clinical officer Noluthando Nematswerani.
Novo Nordisk is to launch the copy, branded Extensior, this Friday.
While Ozempic is registered as a diabetes treatment, it is often prescribed “off label” for weight management.
The Standard Exit Price f(SEP) or a 1.5ml pen of Extensior will be R1 222.10, and that of a 3ml pen with a stronger dosage will be R2 444.23, according to information provided to industry. The equivalent Ozempic products cost R1 437.78 and R2 875.56, respectively. Each pen provides four weekly shots, and all prices include VAT.
Novo’s GM for South Africa, Sara Norcross, defended the pricing: “If you look at our semaglutide prices over the past year, prices have come down, and as more options enter the market, the prices will decrease even further.”
Last week MedicalBrief noted that SAHPRA has approved a generic semaglutide made by India’s Sun Pharmaceuticals and is reviewing a further 12 applications from other companies.
See more from MedicalBrief archives:
Cheaper weight loss generics on its way for South Africa
Ozempic goes generic for billions of people worldwide