Aspen announces local availability of Lilly’s Mounjaro®
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®.
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”).
On 30 August 2023, Aspen 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.
Stephen Saad, Aspen Group Chief Executive said, “Aspen values our relationship with Lilly and its recognition of Aspen
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.”
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.
/ends
[1] Stats SA. Non-Communicable diseases in South Africa: Findings from death notifications 2008 – 2018.
Available at: https://www.statssa.gov.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Deaths-final.jpg (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
About Aspen
Headquartered in Durban, South Africa, Aspen is a leading global specialty and branded multinational pharmaceutical company with a presence in
both emerging and developed markets.
Aspen improves the health of patients in more than 115 countries and territories through its high quality, affordable medicines. The Group’s key
business segments are Manufacturing and Commercial Pharmaceuticals comprising Injectable products, Prescription and OTC medicines.
Aspen employs more than 9 300 people and has 63 established business operations in some 46 countries. The Group operates 24 manufacturing
facilities across 15 sites and holds international manufacturing approvals from some of the most stringent global regulatory agencies. Its
manufacturing capabilities are scalable to demand and cover a wide variety of product-types including steriles, oral solid dose, liquids, semi-solids,
biologicals and active pharmaceutical ingredients. For more information visit www.aspenpharma.com
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