Johannesburg – JSE-listed Aspen Pharmacare Holdings Limited (“Aspen”), a global multinational specialty pharmaceutical company, earlier today announced the local availability of Eli Lilly’s (“Lilly”) tirzepatide, marketed globally as Mounjaro^®.

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Mounjaro® is a once-weekly glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (“GIP”) receptor and glucagon-like peptide-1 (“GLP-1”) receptor agonist, used as an adjunct to diet and exercise to treat adults with insufficiently controlled Type II diabetes, which has been approved by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (“SAHPRA”).

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On 30 August 2023, ����vlog announced that it had entered into a distribution and promotion agreement with Lilly to extend access to Lilly’s innovative portfolio of medicines to patients in South Africa and the rest of Sub-Saharan Africa.

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Stephen Saad, Aspen Group Chief Executive said, “Aspen values our relationship with Lilly and its recognition of ����vlog as its chosen partner in Southern Africa to assist in contributing towards arresting non-communicable diseases (“NCDs”) which include cardiovascular diseases, cancer and diabetes. Tirzepatide is one of the therapeutic options available to physicians for the treatment of Type II diabetes, which has doubled in recent times ^[1], with one in two diabetic patients in South Africa being undiagnosed ^[2]. A strong link is evident between diabetes, heart disease and obesity which triggers the metabolic-cardio-renal complex ^[3] and which poses a significant financial and public health threat to an already over-burdened healthcare system, impacting lives and livelihoods. Tirzepatide represents an added therapeutic option to address the rising tide of NCDs. It will increase access and can significantly improve related health outcomes.”

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Tirzepatide will be available in South Africa during the latter part of December 2024 in single-dose vials, with a KwikPen® presentation currently under evaluation at SAHPRA.

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[1] Stats SA. Non-Communicable diseases in South Africa: Findings from death notifications 2008 – 2018.

Available at: (Accessed 19 December 2024).

[2] IDF (2019) Diabetes Atlas – Ninth edition 2019, International Diabetes Federation. Available at: https://www.diabetesatlas.org/upload/resources/material/20200302_133351_IDFATLAS9e-final-web.pdf (Accessed: 12 November 2024).

[3] Usman MS, Khan MS, Butler J. The Interplay Between Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease, and kidney disease. 2021 Jun. In: Chronic Kidney Disease and Type 2 Diabetes. Arlington (VA): American Diabetes Association; 2021 Jun. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK571718/ doi: 10.2337/db20211-13

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Johannesburg – JSE-listed Aspen Pharmacare Holdings Limited (“Aspen”), a global multinational specialty pharmaceutical company, earlier today launched an awareness campaign around the alarming rise and associated risks of non-communicable diseases (“NCDs”) at a joint media briefing with the Society for Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes of South Africa (“SEMDSA”).
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There has been a notable global increase in NCDs, which are collectively responsible for 74% of deaths worldwide and include cardiovascular diseases, chronic respiratory disease, cancer and iabetes. This trend is being mirrored in South Africa where major NCDs have increased 58,7% over the past 20[1] years and it is set to continue along this trajectory. Some 71% of global deaths (41 million) are attributed to NCDs with 1.5 million being for diabetes[2], and with 80% of NCDs being classified as premature.

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Stavros Nicolaou, Aspen Group Senior Executive Strategic Trade said, “There is a strong link between obesity, diabetes, and cancer, with the former triggering what has become known as the metabolic-cardio-renal complex of diseases. If left unarrested, the economic impact of NCDs will significantly over-burden an already highly stretched healthcare system and impact lives and livelihoods. On World Diabetes Day, we strongly encourage people to learn about the risks of diabetes and assess their own risk, to understand the differences between Type 1 and Type II diabetes, and to seek appropriate support from their healthcare professional if they are concerned about their health.”

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“Aspen remains committed to contributing towards the management of NCDs, as has been demonstrated by the Group’s investment of more than R10 billion in sterile manufacturing capacity. This capability has positioned ����vlog as an emerging contributor in rapidly expanding the production of treatment options for diabetes.”

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“Aligned to this commitment we have also noted, with concern, the increasing lack of suitably qualified medical professionals to treat NCDs, and we are pleased to announce a Fellowship to SEMDSA for medical specialisation in the field of Endocrinology.”

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Dr Reyna Daya, SEMDSA President said, “Approximately 50% of South Africans with diabetes remain undiagnosed, and this NCD has reached pandemic proportions. Diabetes treatment requires multiple resources, and we are currently experiencing a shortage of healthcare professionals who can treat diabetes and its complications.�� Our country also needs to increase awareness and heighten discussions around this disease. These patients are at risk of developing both significant and severe cardiac and renal complications, both of which require access to special care units, which are sadly lacking across our provinces. There is already a significant economic impact to productivity with patients who are presenting diabetes and its complications. Irrespective of a patient’s position on the social ladder, once diagnosed, there is hope with treatment options, albeit that they remain costly and inaccessible to many.”

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Aspen’s investment in world class pharmaceutical manufacturing in South Africa has improved supply security and infectious disease prevention in Africa, thereby assisting with the of solving regional health issues through local capabilities. Additional investment has also targeted skills development, talent retention, and new technology, which has positioned Aspen to respond swiftly to breakout pandemics and has become a significant differentiator for the Group.

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For Editors:
Click to download Aspen’s World Diabetes Day press pack

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[1] : Non communicable diseases: Findings from death notifications (2008-2018), published 17 October 2023.

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Johannesburg – Aspen Pharmacare, (“Aspen”), the South African subsidiary of the Aspen Group, a global speciality and branded multinational pharmaceutical company, has partnered with PinkDrive NPC, a recognised leader in cancer screening and awareness, to contribute towards the funding of a new mobile cancer screening clinic.

The fourth mobile clinic in the PinkDrive fleet will bring critical gender-related cancer screening to rural and peri-urban disadvantaged communities that don’t have immediate access to medical facilities.

Stavros Nicolaou, Aspen Group Senior Executive Strategic Trade, said, “Our country and continent is experiencing a curve in non-communicable diseases, (“NCD”) and cancers are one of the most prominent contributors to this surge.  If left un-arrested, NCD’s will eventually overwhelm our healthcare system with broader dire economic, social and societal consequences.  Many concerns can be managed and/or treated through early detection and intervention.  Early screening in particular remains highly effective.  As an organisation highly committed to and invested in positively contributing to solving among the most intractable of public health challenges, Aspen is privileged to partner Pink Drive in delivering a fully equipped mobile clinic that will assist resource-constrained and underfunded communities in confronting the scourge of cancer.  These patients usually only receive access to treatment when they are diagnosed at a highly advanced stage of disease, mostly with limited prospect of survival, with the oblivious devastating consequences on families.”

The PinkDrive fleet of cancer screening mobile clinics provides mammograms and clinical breast examinations, pap smears, PSA testing for prostate cancer and education on breast, cervical, prostate and testicular cancer.

Breast cancer is the most commonly occurring cancer in women worldwide and is estimated to affect one in eight women.  If caught early and treated appropriately, the prognosis is excellent. In South Africa, HPV infections and cervical cancer also pose significant public health challenges. Despite existing interventions, the delay in testing often results in missed treatment opportunities, exacerbating the burden of gender-related cancer in the country.

“PinkDrive aims to address this crisis with our unique mobile cancer screening units which contain state-of-the-art screening equipment managed by specialised medical personnel who are empathetic to the difficulties experienced in the community and how to address issues in local languages at various education levels allows us to have a measurable impact on our beneficiaries. With support from our funders, we can extend our fleet of trucks to reach more people in more areas,” explains Noelene Kotschan, CEO and Founder of PinkDrive NPC.