Ozempic Topped Canadian Drug Sales at $2.9B in 2025: IQVIA

Ozempic was by far the best-selling drug in Canada in 2025, recording $2.9-billion in sales — more than three times the next best-selling medication, according to aggregated prescription data from IQVIA Canada [Source: theglobeandmail.com/business/economy/article-health-canada-apotex-generic-ozempic-approval/].

A market leader entering generic competition

The IQVIA figure underscores the commercial scale of Novo Nordisk's semaglutide franchise as the brand prepares to face copies on Canadian shelves. More than one million Canadians are currently on Ozempic, and use is expected to climb further as cheaper generic versions become available [Source: theglobeandmail.com/business/economy/article-health-canada-apotex-generic-ozempic-approval/].

The current list price of brand-name Ozempic is $228 for a four-week supply, not including pharmacy and distributor markups [Source: theglobeandmail.com/business/economy/article-health-canada-apotex-generic-ozempic-approval/]. Retail pricing collected on GLP1Prices.ca currently ranges from $200 to $663 per month across Canadian pharmacies, reflecting markups above the manufacturer list figure.

Public-plan spending tripled in four years

Public drug plans in every province and territory already cover brand-name Ozempic for Type 2 diabetes. The taxpayer-funded programs collectively spent $794.1-million on Ozempic in 2024, up from $130.5-million in 2020, according to data published by the Canadian Institute for Health Information [Source: theglobeandmail.com/business/economy/article-health-canada-apotex-generic-ozempic-approval/].

That growth trajectory frames why the arrival of generics carries fiscal weight for both public payers and private insurers. Vicky Lee, a pharmacist and the director of pharmacy consulting and professional services at TELUS Health, said generic semaglutide "should represent a lot of cost savings to the plans and the patients," particularly on the Type 2 diabetes side [Source: theglobeandmail.com/business/economy/article-health-canada-apotex-generic-ozempic-approval/].

Two generics approved, more under review

Health Canada authorized the second generic semaglutide injection on May 1, 2026, manufactured by Toronto-based Apotex. The approval came three days after Health Canada cleared the first generic semaglutide, made by Dr. Reddy's Laboratories in India [Source: cbc.ca/news/health/ozempic-semaglutide-generic-version-canada-9.7184915].

Canada is the first G7 country to authorize generic semaglutide, and seven other submissions for generic semaglutide from different companies are currently under review [Source: globalnews.ca/news/11826332/canada-approves-2nd-generic-version-semaglutide/]. Four other manufacturers have applications pending with Health Canada, according to the Globe and Mail's count [Source: theglobeandmail.com/business/economy/article-health-canada-apotex-generic-ozempic-approval/].

Pricing tiers under the pCPA framework

Generic pricing in Canada is set out in a framework agreed to by the industry and public health plans through the pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance. According to that pricing structure:

• The first generic medication can be priced at 75 to 85 per cent of the brand name [Source: cbc.ca/news/health/ozempic-semaglutide-generic-version-canada-9.7184915].
• When two generic products are on the market, the price is set at 50 per cent of the brand-name price [Source: theglobeandmail.com/business/economy/article-health-canada-apotex-generic-ozempic-approval/].
• Once three or more companies are on the market, the price drops to 35 per cent of the brand-name price [Source: theglobeandmail.com/business/economy/article-health-canada-apotex-generic-ozempic-approval/].

Health Canada has stated that many generic medications are 45 to 90 per cent cheaper than the brand name versions [Source: globalnews.ca/news/11826332/canada-approves-2nd-generic-version-semaglutide/].

Wegovy coverage remains a question

Public plans' transition to generic Ozempic for Type 2 diabetes should be straightforward, but it is less clear how public plans will approach generic copies of Wegovy, since the branded version has never been listed. Canada's Drug Agency recommended Wegovy for reimbursement, but pricing talks with Novo Nordisk broke off late last year [Source: theglobeandmail.com/business/economy/article-health-canada-apotex-generic-ozempic-approval/].

Readers can monitor approval status on our generic semaglutide tracker and check plan details with the insurance coverage checker. For background on tirzepatide products such as Mounjaro and Zepbound, see our FAQ.

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