By: IPP Bureau
Last updated : July 15, 2026 2:12 pm
The product will be offered as a pre-filled, multi-dose injectable pen in two strengths—2 mg/1.5 mL and 4 mg/3 mL—enabling flexible once-weekly dosing
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. has received approval from the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) to manufacture and market a generic version of semaglutide injection in South Africa for the treatment of adults with inadequately controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus, to be used alongside diet and exercise.
The company plans to launch the product in South Africa in the coming days. It will be offered as a pre-filled, multi-dose injectable pen in two strengths—2 mg/1.5 mL and 4 mg/3 mL—enabling flexible once-weekly dosing.
With this approval, South Africa becomes the second market after India where Sun Pharma has secured regulatory clearance for a generic semaglutide product, underscoring the company's growing capabilities in developing complex generic medicines for global markets.
Aalok Shanghvi, Chief Operating Officer, Sun Pharma, said, "South Africa is the second market after India where Sun Pharma has received approval for generic semaglutide. This reflects our ability to develop complex generic medicines that meet the stringent quality standards across different markets. We remain committed to improving access to generics and making evidence-based treatment options available to patients and healthcare professionals."
The approval comes as South Africa grapples with a rising burden of type 2 diabetes, fuelled by rapid urbanisation, lifestyle changes, and increasing obesity rates. Expanding access to affordable, evidence-based therapies such as generic semaglutide is expected to support better disease management while easing pressure on the country's healthcare system.
The latest regulatory clearance further strengthens Sun Pharma's diabetes portfolio and reinforces its strategy of expanding access to high-quality, affordable generic medicines in international markets.