Aspen Pharmacare has received approval from the SA Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) for the diabetes treatment drug Mounjaro (tirzepatide) as a chronic weight management treatment, effective from this month, it has announced.
Aspen launched Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro in December 2024 to treat type 2 diabetes in SA, and the latest SAHPRA green light is for a new indication for the once-weekly prescription treatment as an adjunct to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity for chronic weight management, reports BusinessLIVE.
Aspen said the KwikPen-pre-filled injection marks a new level of ease and accessibility for those requiring regular administration of the drug for both type 2 diabetes and weight loss management indications.
Obesity is surging to unprecedented levels in South Africa, with research by Bhekisisa showing that while diabetes is the top killer among women, obesity is also a dangerous disease. About one in four SA adults is obese, and almost as many are overweight, it said.
Business Day reported previously that according to the 2016 SA Demographic and Health Survey, about half the population is an unhealthy weight, with 68% of women and 31% of men being overweight or obese.
BusinessLIVE article – SAHPRA approves Mounjaro for weight loss (Restricted access)
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