Sandoz CEO Calls Canada World's Second-Largest GLP-1 Market

Sandoz CEO Richard Saynor has described Canada as the world's second-largest GLP-1 market, a characterization that is shaping industry expectations as generic semaglutide applications move through Health Canada review [Source: endorhealth.com/article/generic-ozempic-coming-to-canada].

A uniquely positioned Canadian market

Novo Nordisk's data exclusivity for semaglutide expired in Canada on January 4, 2026, following a lapse in key Canadian patent protection tied to a maintenance-fee issue [Source: endorhealth.com/article/generic-ozempic-coming-to-canada]. Canada has since become the first major Western market where generic semaglutide can be legally manufactured and sold, subject to Health Canada approval [Source: endorhealth.com/article/generic-ozempic-coming-to-canada].

That unusual position, combined with the scale of Canadian demand, is why Sandoz's top executive has flagged the country's importance to global generics strategy. As of January 2026, Health Canada was reviewing nine submissions for generic semaglutide from companies including Sandoz Canada, Apotex, Teva Canada, Taro Pharmaceuticals, Aspen and Pharmacare Canada [Source: endorhealth.com/article/generic-ozempic-coming-to-canada].

Cross-border supply concerns

The size of the Canadian market has also raised questions about cross-border demand. There are concerns about US patients seeking lower-cost alternatives once generic versions of Ozempic reach Canadian pharmacies [Source: endorhealth.com/article/generic-ozempic-coming-to-canada].

British Columbia introduced restrictions in 2023 after large volumes of Ozempic were being dispensed through online and mail-order channels to US residents, and the province later reported a dramatic drop in these prescriptions after the rule change [Source: endorhealth.com/article/generic-ozempic-coming-to-canada]. Generic availability could intensify cross-border pressure, though regulations prevent companies from exporting drugs if it would cause domestic shortages [Source: endorhealth.com/article/generic-ozempic-coming-to-canada].

Insurer claims nearly doubled in 2024

The financial footprint of GLP-1 medications in Canada helps explain the market's scale. In 2024 alone, Canadian insurers paid nearly $77 million in claims for weight-management drugs, a figure that nearly doubled year over year [Source: endorhealth.com/article/generic-ozempic-coming-to-canada].

Frédéric Leblanc, a pharmacist at iA Financial, said insurers are preparing so that everybody benefits from a lower price, both in diabetes and eventually in weight management [Source: endorhealth.com/article/generic-ozempic-coming-to-canada].

Current Canadian pricing

Brand-name semaglutide medications currently cost approximately $200 to $400 per month in Canada, varying by dose, pharmacy, and province, with Ozempic typically in the lower end of this range and Wegovy typically in the higher end [Source: endorhealth.com/article/generic-ozempic-coming-to-canada]. That range sits slightly below the pricing currently reflected across Canadian pharmacies on GLP1Prices.ca, where Ozempic listings range from $222 to $663 and Wegovy from $270 to $599.

At Dr. David Macklin's weight management practice in Toronto, a monthly supply of Ozempic or Wegovy costs between $300 and $400, sometimes more depending on the dose [Source: cbc.ca/news/health/generic-ozempic-canada-waiting-9.7142339]. Macklin is the director of the Medcan Weight Management Program [Source: cbc.ca/news/health/generic-ozempic-canada-waiting-9.7142339].

Timeline remains uncertain

Health Canada's target timeline for initial review of a generic drug is 180 days, and the agency says it is on track to meet review targets for generic semaglutide submissions [Source: cbc.ca/news/health/generic-ozempic-canada-waiting-9.7142339]. Sandoz has said it expects the market to take shape in the third quarter of 2026, depending on Health Canada's review process and any additional information requests [Source: endorhealth.com/article/generic-ozempic-coming-to-canada].

Mina Tadrous, associate professor at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Toronto, estimates generics might 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 online, pricing could be around $100 a month or less depending on the dosage [Source: cbc.ca/news/health/generic-ozempic-canada-waiting-9.7142339].

Tirzepatide products unaffected

Only semaglutide is losing patent protection. Eli Lilly's Mounjaro and Zepbound, which use the active ingredient tirzepatide, remain under patent protection in Canada with no imminent patent expiry [Source: endorhealth.com/article/generic-ozempic-coming-to-canada]. Patients tracking the semaglutide pipeline can monitor updates through our generic semaglutide tracker or review plan details via our insurance coverage checker.

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