Sa Watchdog To Probe Global Giants Over Insulin Pens

Novo Nordisk and Sanofi are facing an investigation in South Africa over concerns about potential anti-competitive practices in the human insulin pen market.

South Africas Competition Commission said it has started a probe and is talking to the local units of both drugmakers. Further investigation is expected to explore if multiple device patents and proprietary designs are being used to exclude competition and prevent the entry of alternative suppliers.

Danish drugmaker Novo said it welcomes the opportunity to provide information to the authorities. The company complies with all relevant laws and 'strongly supports a competitive market,' it added in an emailed statement.

Diabetes is a major problem in South Africa and is the leading underlying cause of death among women in the country, which has overburdened public facilities.

After a decade of being the primary supplier of human insulin pens in South Africa, Novo decided against bidding for the 2024 tender. Instead, it decided to phase out the easy-to-use pens and tendered for an older form of the drug that comes in a vial, where patients have to administer the treatment via a syringe themselves.