Wegovy won’t be in Canadian public drug plans as Novo Nordisk refuses talks

Negotiations that could have led to coverage for weight-loss drug Wegovy under Canadian public health plans are not moving forward.

Negotiations that could have led to coverage of weight-loss drug Wegovy under Canadian public health plans are not moving forward.

Novo Nordisk, the Denmark-based parent company of Wegovy, had been in talks to bring down the cost of the medication by securing coverage under Canada’s public health system.

Canada’s Drug Agency, a non-profit that looks at the cost-effectiveness of different medications, asked the pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance, which negotiates prices for drugs on behalf of provincial, territorial and federal governments, to talk with Novo Nordisk.

According to the pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance on its website, those negotiations have “concluded without agreement (manufacturer declined negotiation).”

Canada’s Drug Agency said in its July recommendation that Wegovy at its list price is expected to cost $5,066 per patient per year based on the recommended maintenance dose for weight management being 2.4 mg weekly — roughly $400 per month.

Global News reached out to Novo Nordisk for comment.

“Canada’s Drug Agency has recommended Wegovy, but public reimbursement isn’t being pursued at this time,” said a spokesperson at Novo Nordisk.

“Our commitment remains to provide Canadians with sustainable access to obesity medications, including future innovations.”