Canadians could get more affordable version of Ozempic in early 2026. Here's how
CBC
Cheaper versions of medications to treat obesity, like Ozempic and Wegovy, could be on the market in Canada as soon as January.
Ozempic is a social media darling — with celebrities singing its praises and people posting about major weight loss. But a patient can pay $400 a month for such medications, says Dr. Sanjeev Sockalingam, Obesity Canada's scientific director and a professor of psychiatry at the University of Toronto.
He says his patients have been frustrated and disappointed by the "prohibitive" cost.
But now, several companies say they intend to market cheaper versions of such drugs. Here's what medical experts say:
Injectable prescription drugs, sold as Ozempic and Wegovy, and the pill Rybelsus all contain the ingredient semaglutide. This class of medication, known as glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists (GLP-1s), regulate blood sugar levels and appetite.
Health Canada previously approved Ozempic to treat diabetes and Wegovy for weight loss. Nearly 33 per cent of Canadians (10.6 million people) were obese in 2023, according to a recent study.
Novo Nordisk, maker of Ozempic and Wegovy, will effectively lose its price protection on those drugs in Canada in January, opening the door to generic versions.
Mina Tadrous, an associate professor who evaluates pharmaceutical prices at the University of Toronto, says three or four companies have them in development or are starting the paperwork.
Tadrous says the number of companies affects pricing.
"The classic framework is that if you only have one, it comes down from the list price to 75 per cent," Tadrous said. "If we have two, it goes down to 50 per cent and if we have three it hits 25 per cent."
Three manufacturers could bring the price down to $100 from $400 for the same strength of semaglutide product, Tadrous estimates.
Not yet. Health Canada needs to consider each company's application to make and sell generic versions of the injectable medication, known as a biosimilar.
Since they won't require new clinical trials, they could be available within weeks of Health Canada's approval — "grandfathered" in, based on the original trials, says Sockalingam.
"It's really about the equivalency of the medication in terms of its availability in the body and its metabolism."
