Kenya Approves Seven Semaglutide Drugs as Ozempic and Wegovy Face New Competition

Kenya has approved seven semaglutide medicines, expanding treatment options for diabetes and weight management while warning against using the drugs without medical supervision.

The Kenyan Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) says it has approved seven semaglutide products after evaluating their quality, safety and efficacy, bringing more competition to a market previously dominated by brands such as Ozempic and Wegovy.

Five of the newly registered products are generic semaglutide medicines approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

Ozempic, manufactured by Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, is approved for adults whose type 2 diabetes is not sufficiently controlled. Wegovy, another Novo Nordisk product, is approved for weight management in adults with a high body mass index (BMI), alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.

The latest approvals add to Truglyx, a generic semaglutide product that was launched in Nairobi last month.

PPB Chief Executive Officer Dr Ahmed Mohamed said the different semaglutide medicines have specific approved indications and should not be treated as interchangeable products.

The regulator also clarified that it does not control the retail prices of the medicines. Generic semaglutide products are currently selling for between KSh13,000 and KSh18,500 per month, while the original products cost between KSh50,000 and KSh75,000 per injection.

The lower prices of generic products could make semaglutide-based treatment more accessible to Kenyan patients, although the medicines remain prescription-only.

The PPB has also warned against the unsupervised use of semaglutide, particularly Ozempic, for weight loss.

“Semaglutide-containing medicines are prescription-only medicines and should only be used following appropriate assessment and prescription by a qualified healthcare professional,” Dr. Mohamed said.

Semaglutide belongs to a class of medicines known as GLP-1 receptor agonists. It is used in the management of type 2 diabetes and, in specific formulations and approved doses, for weight management.

The approvals come as Kenya faces rising rates of both diabetes and obesity. The 2026 State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report estimates that the number of Kenyan adults living with obesity rose from about 1.6 million in 2012 to 3.6 million in 2024.

Kenya’s adult obesity rate is estimated at 11.3%, compared with 8.1% across Eastern Africa.