Apotex Won't Manufacture Generic Semaglutide in Canada

Apotex Inc., Canada's largest drug maker and the second company cleared by Health Canada to sell a generic version of brand-name Ozempic, will not produce its semaglutide injection at any of its Canadian facilities, the company's president confirmed [Source: theglobeandmail.com/business/economy/article-health-canada-apotex-generic-ozempic-approval].

A Canadian-headquartered drug, but not Canadian-made

Martin Arès, president of Apotex Canada and Rest of World, told The Globe and Mail that although Apotex has more than 4,000 employees across five Canadian facilities, semaglutide will not be produced domestically [Source: theglobeandmail.com/business/economy/article-health-canada-apotex-generic-ozempic-approval]. He did not specify where the drug would be produced [Source: theglobeandmail.com/business/economy/article-health-canada-apotex-generic-ozempic-approval].

According to Arès, the injectable pen requires a specialized manufacturing process that Apotex does not currently have in-house [Source: theglobeandmail.com/business/economy/article-health-canada-apotex-generic-ozempic-approval]. Apotex's tentative U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval, granted in April, was made in partnership with Indian pharmaceutical company Orbicular Pharmaceutical Technologies, and Arès said the product reviewed by Health Canada was the same as the FDA application [Source: theglobeandmail.com/business/economy/article-health-canada-apotex-generic-ozempic-approval].

Timing and the regulatory backdrop

Health Canada authorized the second generic semaglutide injection on May 1, 2026, three days after the first generic from Dr. Reddy's Laboratories was cleared [Source: canada.ca/en/health-canada/news/2026/05/canada-approves-second-generic-semaglutide-the-first-g7-country-to-do-so.html]. The regulator confirmed it is currently reviewing seven other submissions for generic semaglutide and expects further decisions in the coming weeks and months [Source: canada.ca/en/health-canada/news/2026/05/canada-approves-second-generic-semaglutide-the-first-g7-country-to-do-so.html].

Catherine Thomas, Apotex's vice president of global communications, told CBC News by email that the company's goal is to have the product available within weeks [Source: cbc.ca/news/health/ozempic-semaglutide-generic-version-canada-9.7184915]. Arès offered the same window to The Globe and Mail [Source: theglobeandmail.com/business/economy/article-health-canada-apotex-generic-ozempic-approval].

The market Apotex is entering

Ozempic is by far the best-selling drug in Canada, with $2.9 billion in sales in 2025 -- more than three times the next best-selling drug -- according to aggregated prescription data from IQVIA Canada [Source: theglobeandmail.com/business/economy/article-health-canada-apotex-generic-ozempic-approval]. More than one million Canadians are currently on the drug [Source: theglobeandmail.com/business/economy/article-health-canada-apotex-generic-ozempic-approval].

The current list price of brand-name Ozempic is $228 for a four-week supply, not including pharmacy and distributor markups [Source: theglobeandmail.com/business/economy/article-health-canada-apotex-generic-ozempic-approval]. Current pharmacy prices tracked on GLP1Prices.ca range from $200 to $663 per fill, reflecting variation in dose, pack size and dispensing fees.

Public drug plans across every province and territory collectively spent $794.1 million on Ozempic in 2024, up from $130.5 million in 2020 [Source: theglobeandmail.com/business/economy/article-health-canada-apotex-generic-ozempic-approval].

What domestic sourcing means for supply

The Apotex approval is for the treatment of adult patients with Type 2 diabetes [Source: canada.ca/en/health-canada/news/2026/05/canada-approves-second-generic-semaglutide-the-first-g7-country-to-do-so.html]. Arès declined to say whether the company would make future submissions for other conditions such as weight management [Source: theglobeandmail.com/business/economy/article-health-canada-apotex-generic-ozempic-approval].

Because neither of the first two approved generics will be manufactured in Canada -- Dr. Reddy's product is made in India and Apotex's location remains undisclosed -- domestic supply will continue to depend on offshore production lines for the foreseeable future. Patients comparing options can monitor pricing across Wegovy, Rybelsus, Mounjaro and Zepbound using our generic semaglutide tracker and insurance coverage checker.

Coverage path and next steps

Thomas said Apotex is working with health insurance companies on listing the new product, noting that for most private plans the process to include generics happens shortly after launch [Source: cbc.ca/news/health/ozempic-semaglutide-generic-version-canada-9.7184915]. Four other manufacturers also have applications pending with Health Canada, according to The Globe and Mail's count [Source: theglobeandmail.com/business/economy/article-health-canada-apotex-generic-ozempic-approval]; the official Health Canada count of remaining files under review is seven [Source: canada.ca/en/health-canada/news/2026/05/canada-approves-second-generic-semaglutide-the-first-g7-country-to-do-so.html].

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