The first generic weight loss drug has hit SA — will it be enough to kill the black market?

Daily Maverick · 🇿🇦 public South Africa · Aug 24, 2026 · 2769 words · By Tanya Pampalone; Mia Malan; Anna-Maria van Niekerk

Public Health Risks of Black Market Medicine Pharmaceutical Pricing and Accessibility Obesity as a Chronic Disease

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What to know about Public Health Risks of Black Market Medicine

It was a carnivorous lizard with a forked tongue, sharp claws and beady skin that helped rewire the appetite of millions of people around the world, making hunger something you can switch off with a few clicks and a jab.

Claims checked 18

Techniques found 2

Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left0%

Center80%

Right20%

5 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Why it matters

In the 1990s, an American scientist by the name of John Eng identified a molecule in the venom of the Gila monster, which spends most of its life underground in North American deserts.

Common ground

The reptile has an interesting approach to food.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language, Exaggeration / Hyperbole: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this Public Health Risks of Black Market Medicine story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that IDexis was also dispensing the compounded semaglutide on a huge scale – up to 84,500 patients per month, according to court documents?
How does this story connect Public Health Risks of Black Market Medicine with Pharmaceutical Pricing and Accessibility over the next few days?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-08-24-the-first-generic-weight-loss…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 2 propaganda techniques in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning

Loaded Language 90% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

warning

Exaggeration / Hyperbole 80% confidence

Overstating facts or claims to create a stronger emotional response.

Why it matters: Recognizing exaggeration / hyperbole helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 18 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

schedule Pending 8

check_circle Corroborated 7

help Insufficient Evidence 2

info Single Source 1

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Claim 1: “IDexis was also dispensing the compounded semaglutide on a huge scale – up to 84,500 patients per month, according to court documents”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 2: “Novo Nordisk recently brought out Extensior, a cheaper version of Ozempic, which costs about 14% less.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 3: “A study in the journal Nature in May, which drew on more than 4,000 studies of 232 million people, found that obesity has plateaued or even edged down in most wealthy countries. But it is climbing in the developing world.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 4: “The WHO has added GLP-1s for the treatment of obesity to its essential medicines list”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 5: “the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (Sahpra) says they are now looking at 13 more applications from companies ready to sell generics here.”

SINGLE SOURCE

One source mentions SAHPRA is reviewing 12 generic semaglutide applications. The claim mentions 13. While very close, it is only reported by one specific source in the provided evidence.

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web search NEUTRAL — SAHPRA‘s position on anti-cancer medications in South Africa. Pretoria, 15 July 2025 – The South African Health.@SAHPRA. South Africa-WHO gears up to map way forward to fight substandard and falsified…
https://www.sahpra.org.za/news-archives/

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web search NEUTRAL — South Africa's health regulator, SAHPRA, is reviewing 12 generic semaglutide applications after Novo Nordisk's patent expired this year. Semaglutide is the active ingredient in Novo's diabetes drug Oz…
https://sundayworld.co.za/news/sahpra-weighs-12-ozempic-copy…

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web search NEUTRAL — Some obesity specialists in South Africa are pushing for change. In November 2025, the South African Metabolic Medicine and Surgery Society (SAMMSS) released the first national clinical guidelines for…
https://allafrica.com/stories/202602260067.html

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Claim 6: “In the 1990s, an American scientist by the name of John Eng identified a molecule in the venom of the Gila monster”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results confirm that Dr. John Eng identified a molecule (exendin-4) in Gila monster venom in 1992, which falls within the 1990s.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Exenatide, sold under the brand name Byetta among others, is a medication used to treat type 2 diabetes. It is used together with diet, exercise, and potentially other antidiabetic medication. It is a…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exenatide

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Malaysian comics (Malay: komik, kartun, cergam) originated in colonial Malaya in the early 20th century as single-panel satirical cartoons in newspapers. Following World War II and Malaya's independe…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaysian_comics

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Mexican beaded lizard (Heloderma horridum) or beaded lizard is a species of venomous lizard in the family Helodermatidae, one of the two species of venomous beaded lizards found principally in Mex…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexican_beaded_lizard

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 7: “According to a 2025 study published in the South African Medical Journal, obesity rates in the country rose substantially between 1998 and 2017. Those numbers are particularly high among women, where rates shot up from about 30% to 43%.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 8: “Ozempic, which launched in 2017 in the US as treatment for diabetes”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources, including a specific FDA approval reference, confirm Ozempic was approved/launched in the US in December 2017 for type 2 diabetes.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — William Gardell Jr. (born August 20, 1969) is an American actor and stand-up comedian. Gardell played Chicago police officer Mike Biggs on Mike & Molly. He also had a recurring role as Billy Colivida …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Gardell

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Novo (legal name: Novo Nordisk A/S) is a Danish multinational pharmaceutical company headquartered in Bagsværd. Novo manufactures and markets pharmaceutical products and services, primarily diabetes a…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Novo_(company)

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Semaglutide is an anti-diabetic medication used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, and an anti-obesity medication used for weight management. It can be administered by subcutaneous injection or tak…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semaglutide

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 9: “Financial services firms like Morgan Stanley expect the GLP-1 market to reach $190-billion (about R3.1-trillion) by 2035”

CORROBORATED

Three independent web search results explicitly state that Morgan Stanley projects the GLP-1 market will reach $190 billion by 2035.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Ares Management Corporation is a global alternative investment manager operating in the credit, private equity and real estate markets. The company was founded in 1997, with additional offices across …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ares_Management

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Eli Lilly and Company, doing business as Lilly, is an American multinational pharmaceutical company headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, with offices in 18 countries. Its products are sold in appro…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eli_Lilly_and_Company

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Paul J. Kenny is the Nash Family Professor of Neuroscience and Director of the Friedman Brain Institute at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (ISMMS) in New York City. Kenny also serves as Di…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_J._Kenny

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 10: “Obesity is classified as a chronic disease by the World Health Organization (WHO).”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

help

Claim 11: “In May, Sahpra and the South African Pharmacy Council raided iDexis, a Pretoria-based compounding pharmacy.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was provided in the search results regarding a raid on iDexis pharmacy in Pretoria.

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Claim 12: “In March, patents on semaglutide, the ingredient that makes Ozempic and Wegovy work, expired in several countries”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources confirm that semaglutide patents expired in several countries (specifically mentioning India and Canada) in March.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — In Brazil, the supreme court refused to extend semaglutide's patent protection, which expired in March 2026.[97][98] The first generic semaglutide injection approved by the regulator Anvisa was EMS's …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semaglutide

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Semaglutide is the active ingredient in Novo Nordisk’s globally popular weightloss and diabetes brands Wegovy and Ozempic, and the patent on the basic compound is set to expire in several countries in…
https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/lupin-inks-su…

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web search NEUTRAL — Semaglutide patent expiry impact. In India and Canada, Novo Nordisk's patent on semaglutide, the active ingredient in blockbuster brands such as Rybelsus, Ozempic, and Wegovy, expired on March 20.
https://www.rediff.com/business/report/semaglutide-ruling-sp…

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Claim 13: “Venter says generics could be manufactured at about R100 to R200 for a month’s supply.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 14: “Retatrutide studies have indeed shown those kinds of impressive numbers [up to 30% of body weight loss].”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources confirm that Phase III trials of retatrutide have shown weight loss of up to 30% (one source specifies 'up to 30%', another 'up to 28.3%').

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Retatrutide has shown to increase insulin secretion. Furthermore, agonism of the glucagon receptor increases energy expenditure and promotes fat loss and metabolic activity.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retatrutide

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web search NEUTRAL — All doses of obesity drug retatrutide resulted in clinically meaningful weight loss, while people with severe obesity on the highest dose lost up to 30% of their body weight over two years, topline re…
https://pharmaceutical-journal.com/article/news/phase-iii-re…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Retatrutide showed up to 28.3% weight loss in Phase 3 trials but is not yet FDA approved. Klinic helps you start weight loss treatment today with insurance.
https://klinic.com/retatrutide

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Claim 15: “The molecule Eng found in the reptile acts a bit like the naturally occurring human hormone, glucagon-like peptide-1, or GLP-1.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources explain that the molecule found in Gila monster venom (exendin-4) led to the development of GLP-1 receptor agonists, mimicking the human hormone GLP-1.

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+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 16: “Novo Nordisk, the company that owns Ozempic and the patent for semaglutide until it expired in South Africa, obtained a temporary interdict on the company [iDexis] in June.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

help

Claim 17: “retatrutide is still in its trial phase. It has not been approved for use anywhere in the world, other than an allowance made early in August by its maker, Eli Lilly, to treat obesity in a select number of patients, with special permission, in the US.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was provided in the search results to confirm or deny the specific approval status or the limited allowance by Eli Lilly in August.

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Claim 18: “Sun Pharma launched the first generic semaglutide injection for type 2 diabetes in South Africa via its local subsidiary, Ranbaxy.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources confirm that Sun Pharma launched the first generic semaglutide injection for type 2 diabetes in South Africa via its subsidiary Ranbaxy.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Anil Koul (born 1 June 1972) is a scientist and former Director of India's CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTECH). He is also the vice president and Head of Global Public Health discovery at …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anil_Koul

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — A generic drug is a pharmaceutical drug that contains the same chemical substance as a proprietary drug that was originally protected by chemical patents. Generic drugs are allowed for sale after the …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generic_drug

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The NIFTY 50 is an Indian stock market index that represents the float-weighted average of 50 of the largest Indian companies listed on the National Stock Exchange (NSE). Nifty 50 is owned and manage…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NIFTY_50

+ 3 more evidence sources

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.