South Africa court bars iDexis from selling compounded Ozempic in Novo Nordisk case

South Africa's High Court has granted Novo Nordisk an interim order to stop a local pharmacy group from selling unregistered semaglutide-based weight-loss medicines.

South ​Africa's High ‌Court has granted ​Novo Nordisk an interim interdict barring a ‌local pharmacy group from manufacturing and selling compounded weight-loss medicines containing semaglutide, in ‌a ruling that shows tightening scrutiny ‌of unregistered drugs.

The Gauteng Division of the High Court in Pretoria ruled ⁠on Monday ​that ⁠iDexis and its director must immediately stop compounding, ⁠supplying and marketing semaglutide-based products pending the ​outcome of regulatory processes and potential ⁠review proceedings. Novo Nordisk, the Danish drugmaker behind ⁠blockbuster ​brands Ozempic and Wegovy, had argued that iDexis was unlawfully selling ⁠unregistered semaglutide medicines and competing in the lucrative ⁠weight-loss ⁠market without complying with South Africa's Medicines Act.