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Getting the latest healthcare news for you
Mounjaro's African expansion is picking up serious speed. Aspen Pharmacare, Eli Lilly's sub-Saharan Africa distributor, expects Mounjaro sales to exceed $124 million in its current financial year, fueled by explosive demand in South Africa and pending launches in Nigeria and Kenya. South Africa's GLP-1 market nearly doubled in value, with Mounjaro now commanding a dominant 53% market share.
Mounjaro's African expansion is picking up serious speed. Aspen Pharmacare, Eli Lilly's official Mounjaro distributor in sub-Saharan Africa, is projecting sales of over 2 billion rand (~$124 million) for its current financial year ending June 2027. CEO Stephen Saad told investors the company has already submitted Mounjaro for regulatory approval in Nigeria and Kenya — both markets could contribute to earnings this year if approvals come through.
South Africa's GLP-1 market nearly doubled in value over the past year, and Mounjaro — launched there in late 2024 — has rapidly climbed to a 53% market share, up from just 15% a year ago.
Looking further ahead, Aspen is also preparing to launch a generic version of Novo Nordisk's Ozempic once patents expire, with registrations already secured in Canada and applications filed across several emerging markets. However, a supply chain hiccup — an impurity issue with the active ingredient from India's Dr. Reddy's Laboratories — is delaying the Canadian launch timeline.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: The rapid uptake of GLP-1 drugs like Mounjaro in sub-Saharan Africa signals a major shift in how the continent is engaging with obesity and diabetes treatments — conditions that are rising sharply across the region. Expanding access to these therapies could have significant public health implications for millions of patients.
