Walk-In Maps Patent Timeline Behind Canada's G7-First Generic

Why Canada cleared generics first

According to Walk-In, Novo Nordisk's foundational semaglutide patent lapsed in Canada in 2020 after the company missed a mandatory patent maintenance fee [Source: walkin.ca/blog/generic-ozempic-canada]. The eight-year regulatory data exclusivity period then ended on January 4, 2026, and a secondary patent covering the injectable formulation expired in March 2026 [Source: walkin.ca/blog/generic-ozempic-canada]. The same article notes that the main US patent on semaglutide does not expire until 2032 [Source: walkin.ca/blog/generic-ozempic-canada].

The BMJ has separately framed Canada's position as only the second country in the world to approve a generic form of Ozempic, attributing the pathway in part to Novo Nordisk not paying a C$250 annual fee [Source: bmj.com/content/393/bmj-2026-597166].

The approvals stack

Health Canada authorized the first generic semaglutide injection on April 28, 2026, from Dr. Reddy's Laboratories [Source: canada.ca/en/health-canada/news/2026/04/canada-becomes-the-first-g7-country-to-approve-a-generic-version-of-semaglutide.html]. Walk-In reports that Apotex received approval three days later, on May 1, becoming the second company cleared [Source: walkin.ca/blog/generic-ozempic-canada].

Health Canada said at the time of the first authorization that it was reviewing eight other submissions from different companies and expected further regulatory decisions in the coming weeks and months [Source: canada.ca/en/health-canada/news/2026/04/canada-becomes-the-first-g7-country-to-approve-a-generic-version-of-semaglutide.html]. The BMJ reported seven other applications were still under review following the Apotex clearance [Source: bmj.com/content/393/bmj-2026-597166].

Walk-In lists the following filings currently under Health Canada review [Source: walkin.ca/blog/generic-ozempic-canada]:

• Zydus Lifesciences
• Aspen Pharmacare Canada
• Sandoz
• Teva
• Taro Pharmaceuticals

What patients face at the counter

Walk-In states that the list price for a four-week supply of branded Ozempic on the Ontario Drug Benefit formulary is $227.94 before pharmacy markups and dispensing fees, and that patients paying out of pocket typically see retail costs between $300 and $450 per month [Source: walkin.ca/blog/generic-ozempic-canada]. Current pharmacy prices tracked on GLP1Prices.ca for Ozempic range from $215 to $663 per fill across reporting pharmacies, broadly consistent with that retail band on the lower end.

Under pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance rules described by Walk-In, the simultaneous arrival of two approved generics moved the market straight to Tier 2, with a maximum public plan price of approximately $114 per four-week supply, and a Tier 3 price triggered when a third manufacturer is approved [Source: walkin.ca/blog/generic-ozempic-canada].

Global News reported that Apotex began shipping its product on a Tuesday and said its generic will be approximately one-third the price of Novo Nordisk's brand-name Ozempic, while Dr. Reddy's said its semaglutide had already arrived in select Canadian pharmacies [Source: globalnews.ca/news/11857122/generic-semaglutide-canada-sales-begin].

Distribution and substitution

Vital, Canada's pharmaceutical supply chain alliance, told Global News that products are moving through distributors to Canada's more than 10,000 pharmacies and that availability may vary across regions [Source: globalnews.ca/news/11857122/generic-semaglutide-canada-sales-begin]. A Rexall spokesperson said the company expected a shipment of generic semaglutide by the end of that week, and Shoppers Drug Mart said inventory was beginning to arrive at distribution centres and select locations [Source: globalnews.ca/news/11857122/generic-semaglutide-canada-sales-begin].

Alison Kraayvanger of the Neighbourhood Pharmacy Association of Canada said pharmacists are able to substitute the generic for the brand product in accordance with existing provincial substitution rules, unless the prescriber has indicated otherwise or there is a clinical reason the patient requires the brand product [Source: globalnews.ca/news/11857122/generic-semaglutide-canada-sales-begin].

Canadians tracking the broader picture can monitor incoming approvals via our generic semaglutide tracker, check plan status with the insurance coverage checker, and compare other GLP-1 listings including Wegovy, Rybelsus, Mounjaro and Zepbound, or consult the FAQ.