South Africa court halts illegal weight-loss jab production
Regulators won a legal battle against a pharmacy compounding popular weight-loss drugs, but illegal sales continue.
South African regulators have won a court case against iDexis, a Tshwane pharmacy illegally compounding weight-loss injections like Ozempic. The Gauteng High Court ordered the pharmacy to stop producing semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic, after large quantities of its compounded drugs were seized. This action follows a surge in demand for weight-loss jabs, which suppress appetite and prolong feelings of fullness.
Stavros Nicolaou, chairperson of the Pharmaceutical Task Group, stated on October 14 that while the court order is a victory, regulators like Sahpra and the South African Pharmacy Council need to act swiftly with clearer guidelines. He warned that momentum could be lost if action is not taken quickly, leaving consumers at risk from illegal and experimental drugs. The panel included representatives from Sahpra, the police, and border control to address the trade in fake medicines.
Sahpra has received approximately 600 complaints this financial year regarding illegitimate and fake medicines sold through informal channels, including online, gyms, and hairdressers. Australia has already banned similar pharmacy compounding of weight-loss jabs, deeming them potentially unsafe. New rules to combat this trade in South Africa are still months away, leaving enforcement gaps.
Why it mattersSouth African consumers are at risk from illegal and experimental weight-loss injections being sold openly.