On 15 July 2026, Sun Pharma announced that the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) has approved its semaglutide injection, generic equivalent of Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic® (semaglutide) for the treatment of adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The launch is expected to occur in the coming days.
The semaglutide injection was approved as a pre-filled, multi-dose injectable pen in two strengths (2 mg/1.5 mL and 4 mg/3 mL) for once-weekly treatment of adult patients as an adjunct to diet and exercise. This is the second market to date, following India, where Sun Pharma’s generic semaglutide has received approval.
On 18 July 2026, Business Insider Africa announced that Novo Nordisk is partnering with Swiss pharmaceutical company, Acino, to launch Extensior™, a lower-cost version of Ozempic® (semaglutide) on 27 July 2026 in South Africa. Extensior™ will be available in 0.25mg, 0.5mg and 1mg doses in the same injection device as Ozempic®. This followed Novo Nordisk securing an interim order from the Gauteng High Court preventing iDexis from manufacturing and selling compounded semaglutide medicines in South Africa in June 2026. iDexis has appealed the court order and decisions made by SAHPRA and the South African Pharmacy Council.
A number of generic semaglutide products have already launched in India and Canada. In March 2026, Dr Reddy’s, Zydus, Alkem, Sun Pharma and Glenmark launched generic semaglutide products on the Indian market, following the expiry of Novo Nordisk’s core Indian patent for semaglutide. Generic semaglutide products were launched in Canada in May 2026 by Apotex and Dr Reddy’s. Apotex received the first US FDA Tentative Approval for its generic semaglutide ANDA in April 2026, giving it an opportunity to be one of the first to launch generic Ozempic® in the US following expiry of Novo Nordisk’s exclusivity/patents.
Novo Nordisk has recently launched alternative semaglutide formulations globally. Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy® pill was the first oral GLP-1 treatment recommended for approval by CHMP for weight management in the EU. Marketing authorisation for the Wegovy® pill and Wegovy® 7.2mg injection in a single-dose pen was granted by the European Commission on 15 July 2026. This followed the first-in-world US approval of the oral formulation by the FDA on 23 December 2025 and US launch of the Wegovy® pill on 5 January 2026.