Novo Nordisk Launches Wegovy in South Africa One in Two Adults Faces Obesity as GLP-1 Drug Competition Heats Up

Novo Nordisk has unveiled its breakthrough weight-loss drug Wegovy in South Africa, marking the therapy’s debut on the African continent amid soaring obesity rates. The launch intensifies competition with Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro, introduced just eight months earlier for Type 2 diabetes treatment.

South Africa is a critical battleground: the country has the fourth-highest adult diabetes population in Africa, and nearly 50% of adults are overweight or obese. Novo Nordisk’s local GM, Sara Norcross, noted that over two-thirds of women and one in three men in South Africa are living with obesity.

Wegovy, approved for weight management, will be available starting Friday. Novo already sells Ozempic for diabetes, but is now expanding its reach as it aims to boost Wegovy’s presence beyond its dominant US market, where it rivals Lilly’s Zepbound and Mounjaro.

Both Wegovy and Mounjaro belong to the GLP-1 receptor agonist class, which helps control blood sugar and prolong feelings of fullness, making them highly effective for weight management.

With the World Health Organization reporting over a billion people with obesity worldwide—and 70% in low- and middle-income countries—South Africa is now a key focus for global obesity drug makers.