Apotex Pegs Generic Semaglutide at One-Third of Brand Price

Apotex told Global News its generic semaglutide will be priced at approximately one-third the cost of Novo Nordisk's brand-name Ozempic, with the Canadian manufacturer confirming it began shipping product on Tuesday [Source: globalnews.ca/news/11857122/generic-semaglutide-canada-sales-begin/].

Pharmacy distribution underway

Apotex is based in Canada and said it began shipping its generic semaglutide on Tuesday, while India-based Dr. Reddy's said its product has already arrived in select Canadian pharmacies and will be available more widely across the country in the coming days [Source: globalnews.ca/news/11857122/generic-semaglutide-canada-sales-begin/]. A spokesperson for Rexall said the company expects a shipment of generic semaglutide by the end of the week, while Shoppers Drug Mart said inventory is beginning to arrive at its distribution centres and select locations, with availability expected to expand across Canada through the end of this week and into next [Source: globalnews.ca/news/11857122/generic-semaglutide-canada-sales-begin/].

Price benchmark vs. brand

Apotex stated its generic semaglutide will be approximately one-third the price of Novo Nordisk's brand-name Ozempic, while a Dr. Reddy's spokesperson did not disclose pricing details except to say that it will be "competitive" [Source: globalnews.ca/news/11857122/generic-semaglutide-canada-sales-begin/]. Global News reported that Ozempic and Wegovy currently cost hundreds of dollars a month depending on the dosage dispensed — in some cases more than $450 [Source: globalnews.ca/news/11857122/generic-semaglutide-canada-sales-begin/]. Current pharmacy cash prices listed on GLP1Prices.ca for Ozempic range from $222 to $663 CAD, consistent with that reference point.

Substitution at the counter

The Neighbourhood Pharmacy Association of Canada said pharmacists are able to substitute the generic for the brand product in accordance with existing provincial substitution rules, unless the prescriber has indicated otherwise or there is a clinical reason the patient requires the brand product, according to spokesperson Alison Kraayvanger [Source: globalnews.ca/news/11857122/generic-semaglutide-canada-sales-begin/]. Kraayvanger added that whether and when public and private drug plans choose to reimburse the generic versions instead of the brand product will be determined independently by each provincial drug plan and private insurer [Source: globalnews.ca/news/11857122/generic-semaglutide-canada-sales-begin/].

Regulatory backdrop

Health Canada authorized the first generic semaglutide injection on April 28, 2026, making Canada the first G7 country to approve a generic version of semaglutide [Source: canada.ca/en/health-canada/news/2026/04/canada-becomes-the-first-g7-country-to-approve-a-generic-version-of-semaglutide.html]. The semaglutide injection submission filed by Dr. Reddy's Laboratories is a generic version of the brand name drug Ozempic, and Health Canada said it is currently reviewing eight other submissions for generic semaglutide by 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 reported that Canada has become only the second country in the world to approve a generic form of Ozempic, with seven other applications still under review and the Dr. Reddy's version becoming available in Canada on May 15 [Source: bmj.com/content/393/bmj-2026-597166].

Pricing framework

According to the pricing structure of the pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance, when two generic medications enter the market, they are at least 50 per cent cheaper than the brand name — but companies can price them lower [Source: globalnews.ca/news/11857122/generic-semaglutide-canada-sales-begin/]. Mina Tadrous, a pharmaceutical policy expert at the University of Toronto, said the first patients to get generic semaglutide will likely be those paying out of pocket because it will take some time to add the new products to provincial public formularies and private insurance plans [Source: globalnews.ca/news/11857122/generic-semaglutide-canada-sales-begin/].

Where to track availability

• Canadians can check pharmacy listings using the generic semaglutide tracker.
• Coverage questions for private plans can be reviewed via the insurance coverage checker.
• Brand reference pricing remains visible on Wegovy, Rybelsus, and tirzepatide products including Mounjaro and Zepbound. See the FAQ for further details.

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