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Health Canada approved on Tuesday the first generic version of Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic drug.
In a news release, the department said the submission for a generic semaglutide injection by Indian drugmaker Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories has been approved. After a “thorough review of evidence,” Health Canada said it found that the drug met safety, efficacy and quality standards.
“I think it’s a great thing,” said Dr. Kaberi Dasgupta, a physician-scientist and professor of medicine at McGill University.
“These medications are quite expensive and we know with generics, it brings down the prices substantially.”
Patients and doctors have long been awaiting a generic version of the drug, which many Canadians use for Type 2 diabetes and weight loss. A recent survey suggested about three million Canadian adults are currently taking GLP-1 drugs, such as Ozempic or Mounjaro, and that many more would like to, but cost is a barrier.
The drug has been hailed as an all around game-changer, with researchers looking into how it can possibly be used to curb addictions to alcohol or opioids.
In January 2026, the Canadian patent for Ozempic will expire, paving the way for cheap generic versions of the semaglutide injections that help regulate blood sugar levels and appetite. Dr. Tom Elliott, medical director at B.C. Diabetes, says that semaglutide injections have revolutionized his practice, and they are astonishingly effective.
Health Canada said this generic, like existing products, is indicated to be used for the “once-weekly treatment of adult patients with Type 2 diabetes to manage blood sugar levels.”
It added that generic semaglutide drugs are “pharmaceutically equivalent” to the brand-name version.
“The availability of generic drugs is expected to have a positive impact in Canada, including potential cost savings for patients and the healthcare system,” the department said in its news release.
Generics to dramatically cut cost: experts
Novo Nordisk — the company behind blockbuster diabetes and weight-loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy — had for years held a patent on semaglutide, the active ingredient in those drugs that triggers the release of insulin and is used to treat diabetes and to aid weight loss.
But its patent expired in Canada in January .
Since then, patients and doctors have eagerly been anticipating generics, because they will significantly reduce the cost.
At this time, most public and private drug plans only cover Ozempic for Type 2 diabetes. That means anyone using it, or Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy, for weight loss are likely paying out of pocket.
A monthly supply of Ozempic or Wegovy costs between $300 and $400 — sometimes even more depending on the dose.
Mina Tadrous, an associate professor at the University of Toronto who researches drug policy, says in order to see big cost savings, another two generic drugs need to be approved.
In its news release, Health Canada says many generic medications are 45 to 90 per cent cheaper than brand-name versions.
With three generics on the market, Tadrous said the price could drop to about $100 or less, depending on their dose.
“I think it’s exciting,” said Tadrous. “It means more choice for patients, especially those that have to pay out of pocket, especially for those that are trying to use it for weight loss … they should have access to these treatments.”
As for whether this will mean that public and private drug plans start covering the drug for obesity, experts say they’re unsure.
‘Always potential harms’
Despite the excitement around the news, experts like Dasgupta say semaglutide is still a prescribed medication that shouldn’t be used without health-care supervision.
“Just because it’s lower cost doesn’t mean automatically anybody should use it,” said Dasgupta, who treats people with diabetes.
She emphasizes that the drug should also only be used alongside proper diet and exercise to maintain muscle. With this likely being the start of generics flooding the market, Dasgupta says people and health-care providers still need to be cautious.
“We need to focus on appropriate public health messaging to make sure that these drugs are not being used in people with eating disorders, for example, or being used off and on with huge fluctuations in weight, which could potentially be harmful,” she said.
“With a powerful tool there are always potential harms.”
And research has already shown that when people who are overweight and obese stopped taking their weight-loss medications they regained weight faster than those who stopped a diet or exercise program. They were also projected to have high cholesterol and blood pressure levels that returned to their pre-treatment levels.
Unclear when generic will be available
It’s unclear when Dr. Reddy’s generics will hit the market. CBC News has reached out to Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories for comment.
Health Canada said it’s currently reviewing eight other generic submissions by different companies and expects to make a decision on these in the next few weeks and months.
It said it will continue to monitor the safety and effectiveness of all generic semaglutides.
