Novo Nordisk Aligns Ozempic Price With Generics as Apotex Ships

Novo Nordisk Canada said it will reduce the price of brand-name Ozempic for eligible Canadians without public or private drug coverage, a move the company described as "aligning their medication costs with generic alternatives," as two Health Canada-approved generic semaglutide products begin reaching pharmacies.

Savings card routed through Rexall

Starting Friday, the reduced price can be accessed using a Novo Nordisk Savings Card at local pharmacies across Canada, excluding Quebec, and is applied automatically at Novo Nordisk Care Rx operated by Rexall. Iain Graham, general manager at Novo Nordisk Canada, said the company is "dedicated to ensuring that eligible patients who choose Ozempic can stay on the brand because of these additional savings".

Two generics now in the Canadian channel

Health Canada has approved generic semaglutide injection from India's Dr. Reddy's Laboratories and Canadian manufacturer Apotex, making Canada only the second country in the world to authorize a generic form of the product. The Dr. Reddy's version became available in Canada on 15 May, while seven other generic semaglutide applications remain under Health Canada review.

Apotex confirmed it began shipping its product on Tuesday, and Dr. Reddy's said its semaglutide has already arrived in "select" Canadian pharmacies with wider distribution to follow in the coming days. Apotex said its generic semaglutide will be approximately one-third the price of Novo Nordisk's brand-name Ozempic, while a Dr. Reddy's spokesperson would only say pricing will be "competitive".

How the generic pricing formula works

Generic drug prices in Canada are set through a formula agreed to by manufacturers and public-health plans. For semaglutide, the price is expected to reach 35 per cent of the Ozempic brand price once at least three generic options are on the market, according to Frédéric Leblanc, a pharmacist at insurer iA Financial. Overall, prices could fall by 65 per cent as generic semaglutide enters the market.

Mina Tadrous, an associate professor at the University of Toronto who evaluates pharmaceutical prices, described a similar framework: with one generic entrant the price drops to 75 per cent of the list price, with two to 50 per cent, and to 35 per cent with three or more. Current pharmacy listings tracked on GLP1Prices.ca show Ozempic ranging from roughly $93 to $663 CAD depending on strength, quantity, and pharmacy, so patients using the insurance coverage checker should confirm both the branded and generic price at their pharmacy of choice.

Insurer response

Major insurers Manulife Financial Corp., Sun Life Financial Inc. and Canada Life told The Globe and Mail they are monitoring the GLP-1 landscape ahead of the patent's expiry. Sun Life spokesperson Jolene Sonshine said that when plan sponsors have a drug already listed, such as Ozempic or Wegovy, listings of the generic product will occur right away, and patients who prefer the brand must pay the difference.

Amélie Gagnon, vice-president of product development and transformation at Desjardins Insurance, said plan members already approved for reimbursement of Ozempic will be able to switch to a generic without submitting an additional request. Total claims paid out by Canadian insurers for weight-loss drugs rose to $77-million in 2024 from nearly $38-million a year earlier.

Context

Canada became only the second country in the world to authorize a generic version of semaglutide after Novo Nordisk did not pay a $C250 annual government fee, according to BMJ reporting. Readers tracking pipeline filings can follow updates through the generic semaglutide tracker or review the FAQ. Tirzepatide products Mounjaro and Zepbound from Eli Lilly are not affected by the semaglutide generic entries described here.

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

Sources

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