Aspen Picks Canada First for Generic Semaglutide Launch Plan

Aspen Pharmacare plans to launch its generic semaglutide first in Canada and emerging markets before expanding to Mexico, New Zealand, Europe and the United States, positioning Canada as an early global test of pricing and access.

Nine files under Health Canada review

Health Canada currently has nine generic semaglutide applications under review and is working through a broader backlog of drug files. The core patent for semaglutide — the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy — has already lapsed in Canada after missed maintenance fee payments and the expiry of data exclusivity on January 4.

Sandoz now targets Q3 2026

Sandoz, which had aimed to launch in the first half of 2026, now expects the Canadian generic market to take shape in the third quarter of 2026, CEO Richard Saynor said. The delay came after both Sandoz and Reddy's Laboratories were told they must provide more data to meet regulatory standards. Sandoz describes Canada as the world's second-largest semaglutide market.

65% list-price reduction once three generics arrive

Once three generic competitors are on the market, Canadian policy will drive list-price discounts of about 65 percent. Patents for semaglutide are expiring sooner in countries that did not grant extensions, including Canada, China, India and Brazil, with IQVIA estimating that about one-third of the world's adults with high body mass live in markets affected by this patent cliff.

Current Canadian pharmacy prices

Pharmacy cash prices on GLP1Prices.ca show the lowest generic semaglutide (Apo-Semaglutide) price in Canada at $83.22 at Walmart Pharmacy in Quebec, before any dispensing fee. Brand Ozempic costs $215–$317 for a 0.25 mg pen at six pharmacies tracked across six provinces. In Ontario, Costco Pharmacy lists a 0.25 mg Ozempic pen at $244.03 before a $4.49 dispensing fee.

• Costco Pharmacy Ontario: $244.03 (0.25 mg pen)
• Walmart Pharmacy Ontario: $262.00 (0.25 mg pen, before fee)
• Rexall Ontario: $276.00 (0.25 mg pen, before fee)

Readers can monitor pipeline progress on the generic semaglutide tracker.

Novo and Lilly brand landscape

Semaglutide injections generate nearly two-thirds of Novo Nordisk's sales, and Ozempic and Wegovy often cost hundreds of dollars per month. At the same time, Eli Lilly's Mounjaro, sold as Zepbound in the US, still has about a decade of patent life and is expected to have overtaken Wegovy's annual sales in 2025. Novo has responded by changing its CEO, cutting prices, launching a Wegovy pill and advancing new products such as CagriSema and amycretin.

Quality warnings as the market expands

IQVIA warned that as more manufacturers enter, "the dangers of counterfeiting and substandard quality are likely to be multiplied," as cited by Bloomberg. Novo has long warned that unauthorized versions of its drugs carry safety risks and has pursued legal action against sellers in grey markets, with mixed results.

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

Sources

• Ozempic generics set to test Canada's drug budgets