Novo Nordisk Ozempic Savings Card Targets Uninsured Canadians

Novo Nordisk Canada said eligible Canadians without public or private drug coverage can now purchase brand-name Ozempic at a reduced price aligned with generic alternatives, using a Novo Nordisk Savings Card at pharmacies across Canada, excluding Quebec.

How the savings card works

According to Novo Nordisk Canada, the reduced price can be accessed using the Novo Nordisk Savings Card at local pharmacies across Canada, excluding Quebec, and will be 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".

Generic semaglutide context

The savings card follows Health Canada authorizations for two generic semaglutide injection products from India's Dr. Reddy's Laboratories and Canada's Apotex, with seven other applications still under review. Canada became only the second country in the world to authorize a generic form of semaglutide, made possible after Novo Nordisk did not pay a C$250 annual fee, according to BMJ.

The Dr. Reddy's version became available in Canada on May 15, while Apotex began shipping its product the same week Novo Nordisk announced the savings card. Apotex said its generic semaglutide would be priced at approximately one-third the price of Novo Nordisk's brand-name Ozempic.

Dr. Reddy's statement

Erez Israeli, chief executive of Dr. Reddy's, said in a press release that the company is "the first company to receive market authorisation for generic semaglutide injection in Canada" and remains "dedicated to expanding access to innovative, high-quality, affordable GLP-1" products in the country.

What this means for insurers

The Globe and Mail reports that Ozempic and Wegovy lost market exclusivity in Canada in January, opening the door for generic semaglutide prices to fall by up to 65 per cent. According to a formula agreed to by manufacturers and public-health plans, generic semaglutide pricing is expected to reach 35 per cent of the Ozempic brand price once at least three generic options are on the market.

Frédéric Leblanc, a pharmacist at insurer iA Financial, told The Globe that generics represent "substantial savings for both plan sponsors and members alike". Total claims paid out by Canadian insurers for these products spiked to $77-million in 2024 from nearly $38-million a year prior, according to the same report.

Reported list prices

The Globe and Mail cited the current list price of Ozempic at about $2,899 a year before pharmacy and distributor markups, and Wegovy at about $5,066 a year. These annualized figures translate to monthly ranges that align with current pharmacy prices on GLP1Prices.ca, where Ozempic ranges from $93.29 to $663 per package and Wegovy ranges from $270 to $550. Canadians can compare current pharmacy pricing using the insurance coverage checker and monitor authorizations via the generic semaglutide tracker.

Insurer response

Sun Life spokesperson Jolene Sonshine told The Globe that when plan sponsors have a product already listed, listings of the generic will occur right away, and members who choose the branded product must pay the difference. Amélie Gagnon, vice-president of product development and transformation at Desjardins Insurance, said members already approved for reimbursement of Ozempic will be able to switch to a generic without submitting an additional request. Manulife spokesperson Fiona McLean said in an e-mail that "These are high-demand therapies, and affordability remains a priority".

For product background on other GLP-1 brands, see Mounjaro, Zepbound, and Rybelsus, or visit our FAQ.

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

Sources

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