Canada Patient Costs Drop as Generic Semaglutide Reaches Pharmacies

Canada became the first G7 country to approve a generic semaglutide injection in May, and the discounted products reached pharmacies at less than a third of the brand price, according to a BBC report tracking patient experiences in Ontario.

Patient out-of-pocket impact

The BBC profiled Elizabeth Doran, a 69-year-old retiree in Ottawa who had been paying between C$350 and C$500 per month out of pocket for her Wegovy prescription, picking up substitute teaching shifts to cover the cost. The BBC reports she has already noticed the price of Wegovy drop since the generics were approved.

An estimated three million Canadians currently take GLP-1 medications, according to the BBC.

Two generic manufacturers cleared

Health Canada has approved generic versions of Ozempic from India-based Dr Reddy's and Canadian manufacturer Apotex, the BBC reported. Dr Reddy's CEO Erez Israeli told the BBC the company has applied for approval in more than 80 countries, with expected availability in South America, Africa and most of Asia -- but not the US, UK or Europe.

Apotex has secured a tentative approval from the US Food and Drug Administration, though it cannot yet sell its generic semaglutide product there, the BBC reported. Apotex CEO Martin Ares told the BBC the company is exploring ways to bring the product to Americans and that it will not reach the US market this year.

How Canada got here first

Novo Nordisk's data exclusivity for semaglutide expired in Canada on January 4, 2026, after key Canadian patent protection lapsed earlier than expected due to a maintenance-fee issue. Tahir Amin, CEO and founder of the Initiative for Medicines, Access & Knowledge, told the BBC that Novo Nordisk's patent on Ozempic could have been extended until 2028 in Canada but the company failed to renew it, while Americans will not see a generic until 2032 when the main compound patent expires.

Novo Nordisk said in a statement to the BBC that the introduction of generics in Canada was a "localized situation based on our specific patent timelines and regulatory environment and does not reflect the situation in the United States, where exclusivity remains intact".

How much prices could fall

Mina Tadrous, an associate professor at the University of Toronto who evaluates pharmaceutical prices, told CBC News that "the classic framework is that if you only have one, it comes down from the list price to 75 per cent. If we have two, it goes down to 50 per cent and down to 35 per cent if you have three or more". Tadrous estimated that three manufacturers of the injectable could bring the price down to under $100 from $400 for the same strength of semaglutide product.

Current pricing on the generic semaglutide tracker shows the lowest generic Ozempic (Apo-Semaglutide) price in Canada is $83.22 at Walmart Pharmacy in Quebec, while brand Ozempic in Ontario is listed at $253.70 to $282 for a 0.25 mg pen before dispensing fees.

Novo Nordisk savings card response

The Novo Nordisk Ozempic Savings Card lowers what eligible Canadians outside Quebec pay for brand Ozempic: since May 29, 2026 for people with no drug coverage, and since July 6, 2026 for people with private plans. Novo Nordisk also received Health Canada approval on December 22, 2025 for two rebranded versions -- Plosbrio (identical to Ozempic) and Poviztra (identical to Wegovy).

Patients comparing options can review the insurance coverage checker or consult the FAQ. Products from Eli Lilly, including Mounjaro and Zepbound, remain under patent protection in Canada with no imminent expiry.

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

Sources

• Why Canadians can now get cheaper generic Ozempic
• Generic Ozempic coming to Canada: what the patent ...
• Canadians could get more affordable version of Ozempic ...