Canadian Patients, Doctors Frustrated by Generic Semaglutide Delay

More than three months after Novo Nordisk's semaglutide patent expired in Canada on January 5, no generic versions have been approved for sale, frustrating patients and physicians who had anticipated lower-cost options by now [Source: theglobeandmail.com/business/economy/article-apotex-fda-approval-generic-ozempic-drug-health-canada-decisions/].

Nine applications still under review

Health Canada currently has nine generic semaglutide applications under review, some filed as early as February 2024 [Source: theglobeandmail.com/business/economy/article-apotex-fda-approval-generic-ozempic-drug-health-canada-decisions/]. Three of those applications come from Toronto-based Apotex, filed in January, April and November of 2025 [Source: theglobeandmail.com/business/economy/article-apotex-fda-approval-generic-ozempic-drug-health-canada-decisions/].

The regulator's target timeline for initial review of a generic drug is 180 days, and Health Canada says it is "on track to meet review targets" for generic semaglutide submissions [Source: cbc.ca/news/health/generic-ozempic-canada-waiting-9.7142339]. Health Canada spokesperson Marie-Pier Burelle told The Globe and Mail on March 25 that reviews "may take longer if data is missing or additional data are required" and that when that happens, "Health Canada pauses its review while awaiting additional information from the manufacturer" [Source: theglobeandmail.com/business/economy/article-apotex-fda-approval-generic-ozempic-drug-health-canada-decisions/].

Clinicians report daily patient questions

Dr. David Macklin, director of the Medcan Weight Management Program in Toronto, told CBC News that generics are now a "regular conversation, daily in fact" in his practice, with patients asking when their medications may become less expensive [Source: cbc.ca/news/health/generic-ozempic-canada-waiting-9.7142339]. Macklin said a monthly supply of Ozempic or Wegovy currently costs between $300 and $400, sometimes more depending on the dose [Source: cbc.ca/news/health/generic-ozempic-canada-waiting-9.7142339]. That range aligns with current pharmacy prices tracked on GLP1Prices.ca.

Mina Tadrous, associate professor at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Toronto, estimates Canadian generics may be available by this summer or early fall [Source: cbc.ca/news/health/generic-ozempic-canada-waiting-9.7142339]. Tadrous said that once enough generics come to market, prices could fall to around $100 a month or less depending on dosage [Source: cbc.ca/news/health/generic-ozempic-canada-waiting-9.7142339].

Insurance hurdles add pressure

CTV News reported on April 14 that some Canadians are still fighting insurance companies to cover Ozempic while waiting for a lower-cost version to arrive [Source: ctvnews.ca/calgary/article/delay-on-generic-ozempic-in-canada-causing-concern-for-some-patients/]. CBC profiled patient Sarah Brooks, who first went on Ozempic in 2023 and lost access when her job and benefits ended in late 2024, causing her to regain weight she had lost [Source: cbc.ca/news/health/generic-ozempic-canada-waiting-9.7142339]. Brooks now uses Wegovy under a new employer benefit, but her plan allots $2,000 per year, which she expects to exhaust on the medication [Source: cbc.ca/news/health/generic-ozempic-canada-waiting-9.7142339].

Dr. Nav Persaud, Canada Research Chair in Health Justice and a staff physician at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto, told CBC that even insured patients can struggle with co-payments, and that patients without coverage almost always have to reduce their dose or stop the medication entirely [Source: cbc.ca/news/health/generic-ozempic-canada-waiting-9.7142339].

Canada was first major market for legal generics

Canada was the first major market where generic forms of semaglutide became legal, as of January 5, 2026 [Source: theglobeandmail.com/business/economy/article-apotex-fda-approval-generic-ozempic-drug-health-canada-decisions/]. Generic semaglutide became legal in India on March 23, and multiple companies secured regulatory approval to begin selling their products that same day, including two drug makers with applications pending at Health Canada [Source: theglobeandmail.com/business/economy/article-apotex-fda-approval-generic-ozempic-drug-health-canada-decisions/].

Michael Law, a pharmaceutical policy researcher and academic director of the Centre for Health Policy at the University of Calgary, said the Canadian timelines suggest "a lot of back-and-forth discussions between the regulator and drug manufacturers" but that it is not yet clear whether delays stem from manufacturers or from Health Canada requesting new studies [Source: theglobeandmail.com/business/economy/article-apotex-fda-approval-generic-ozempic-drug-health-canada-decisions/].

For consumers tracking developments, GLP1Prices.ca maintains a generic semaglutide tracker, an insurance coverage checker, and an FAQ. Brand options currently on the market include Rybelsus, Mounjaro and Zepbound.

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