The long-running legal battle between Novo Nordisk and South African compounding pharmacy iDexis has taken another turn, after a Pretoria High Court judge refused the pharmacy’s bid to appeal an interim order that bars it from manufacturing compounded semaglutide products.
What the judge said
Judge Petrus van Niekerk dismissed iDexis’s application for leave to appeal, describing the submission as a “lengthy diatribe” that largely repeated arguments already rejected by the court rather than presenting a credible basis on which another court might reach a different outcome. The judge characterised the application as an abuse of court process.
Background to the case
Novo Nordisk, the maker of Ozempic and Wegovy, took iDexis to the High Court in mid-2026 seeking to stop the compounding pharmacy from manufacturing, marketing and selling unregistered semaglutide-based products at scale. Novo argued the practice posed risks to “patient safety, product quality and regulatory oversight.” The company won an interim order in its favour, which iDexis then sought to appeal.
The dispute follows a raid on iDexis premises by regulators earlier in 2026, after inspectors reported serious deficiencies in quality, safety and compliance and ordered product recalls. iDexis has previously confirmed it has stopped producing compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide products, and its registration currently allows it to operate only as a community pharmacy rather than a manufacturing one, pending the outcome of investigations by SAHPRA and the South African Pharmacy Council.
What happens next
iDexis’s legal team has indicated it intends to pursue leave to appeal directly with the Supreme Court of Appeal, meaning the underlying dispute over compounded GLP-1 medicines in South Africa is not yet resolved. The case is being closely watched as a test of how far compounding pharmacies may go in replicating patented GLP-1 formulations outside the standard registration process.
What this means for patients
- The interim order blocking iDexis from manufacturing compounded semaglutide products remains in force — patients should not expect compounded semaglutide or tirzepatide products from iDexis to return to shelves in the near term.
- Anyone still holding or being offered previously recalled iDexis GLP-1 products should stop use and consult a healthcare provider, as regulators have flagged quality and safety concerns.
- The case underscores that unregistered or compounded GLP-1 products carry legal and safety uncertainty in South Africa; patients are advised to source semaglutide and tirzepatide medicines only through SAHPRA-registered products and licensed pharmacies.
- A further appeal to the Supreme Court of Appeal is expected, so the regulatory and legal picture around compounded GLP-1s in SA may continue to shift.
This article is for general information purposes only and does not constitute medical or legal advice. Always consult a registered healthcare professional before starting, stopping, or switching any medication, and seek independent legal advice for matters relating to specific court proceedings.
Sources
- Judge calls iDexis appeal application an ‘abuse of process’ — Business Day, 11 September 2026
- South Africa’s iDexis appeals court ruling over compounded weight-loss drugs — CNBC Africa, 14 July 2026 (background)