Alberta Pharmacies Begin Ordering Generic Semaglutide This Week

Generic semaglutide injections are expected to appear on Alberta pharmacy shelves within days, with Apotex telling CBC News that its two-milligram and four-milligram pre-filled pens will start hitting Alberta pharmacies "any day" [Source: cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/generic-ozempic-alberta-9.7211507].

Pharmacists ready to place orders

Wessam Sakr, pharmacy manager and co-owner of Edgemont Family Pharmacy and Travel Clinic in Calgary, told CBC he was notified last week that he would be able to start ordering limited stock this week [Source: cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/generic-ozempic-alberta-9.7211507]. Sakr said he is hearing from patients interested in the generic semaglutide injections, adding: "I'm expecting there will be super high demand for them" [Source: cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/generic-ozempic-alberta-9.7211507].

A spokesperson for Vital, which represents manufacturers, wholesalers and other businesses in Canada's pharmaceutical supply chain, told CBC that "while shipments have begun, timing for arrival in individual pharmacies may vary as products continue to move through the supply chain and as demand evolves" [Source: cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/generic-ozempic-alberta-9.7211507].

Two manufacturers cleared, more under review

Health Canada has recently approved two generic versions of Ozempic, one from Apotex Inc. and one from Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, with other submissions under review [Source: cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/generic-ozempic-alberta-9.7211507]. Health Canada said in its April 28, 2026 announcement that it had authorized the first generic semaglutide injection — the Dr. Reddy's submission — and was reviewing eight other submissions for generic semaglutide from different companies [Source: canada.ca/en/health-canada/news/2026/04/canada-becomes-the-first-g7-country-to-approve-a-generic-version-of-semaglutide.html].

The BMJ later reported that the Dr. Reddy's generic became available in Canada on May 15, 2026, while the Apotex version did not yet have a release date as of that report [Source: bmj.com/content/393/bmj-2026-597166]. Seven other applications remain under review according to the same BMJ report [Source: bmj.com/content/393/bmj-2026-597166].

Price expectations

According to Sakr, brand-name Ozempic can cost anywhere from $280 to more than $500 a month depending on the dose, which he described as a significant barrier for patients [Source: cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/generic-ozempic-alberta-9.7211507]. Health Canada has said generic medications can be 45 to 90 per cent cheaper than brand-name options, and Apotex told CBC its version will cost one third of the brand-name medication [Source: cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/generic-ozempic-alberta-9.7211507].

Current pharmacy listings on GLP1Prices.ca show Ozempic ranging from approximately C$215 to C$663 across Canadian pharmacies, which is broadly consistent with the $280–$500+ range Sakr cited to CBC.

Mathieu Giroux, a pharmacist at Cambrian Pharmacy in Calgary, told CBC that competition is expected to intensify as more generics enter the market: "As the amount of generics come on the market it becomes more and more and more competitive" [Source: cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/generic-ozempic-alberta-9.7211507]. Giroux added: "If the price gets cut all the way down to 50 per cent when there's a lot of generics on the market, then the boom will be even crazier" [Source: cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/generic-ozempic-alberta-9.7211507].

Alberta provincial coverage

Alberta currently provides Ozempic coverage for select groups, including seniors, only through special authorization and only for Type 2 diabetes treatment after other therapies have been tried, CBC reported [Source: cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/generic-ozempic-alberta-9.7211507]. Tom McMillan, spokesperson for Primary and Preventative Health Services, told CBC that both pharmaceutical companies approved to produce the generics have provided submissions for provincial coverage, which are currently under review [Source: cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/generic-ozempic-alberta-9.7211507].

"While a decision timeline cannot be confirmed at this stage, we are committed to a thorough and timely assessment and will keep Albertans informed as the process moves forward," McMillan said [Source: cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/generic-ozempic-alberta-9.7211507].

Context for other GLP-1 products

The generic semaglutide approvals apply only to injectable semaglutide and do not affect tirzepatide products Mounjaro and Zepbound, which remain under patent in Canada. Readers tracking incoming approvals can follow our generic semaglutide tracker, check plan status with our insurance coverage checker, or review common questions in the FAQ.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.