By January 2026, lower-cost versions of weight-loss medications like Ozempic and Wegovy could become available in Canada, providing a more affordable option for those managing diabetes and obesity.These injectable drugs, popularized by celebrities and social media, carry a steep price tag of up to $400 per month, a cost that frustrates many patients requiring ongoing treatment, according to Dr. Sanjeev Sockalingam, scientific director of Obesity Canada and a University of Toronto professor, in an interview with CBC.Ozempic, Wegovy, and the oral medication Rybelsus all contain semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonist that regulates blood sugar and suppresses appetite, and are typically prescribed by a physician for Type 2 diabetes and weight management.Medical experts stress that these drugs should be used alongside diet and exercise..Poll finds one in ten Canadian adults is on weight-loss drugs.The Canadian market for semaglutide is booming, generating $1.18 billion in 2024 and expected to reach $4.03 billion by 2035, driven by rising obesity rates— 33% of Canadians were classified as obese in 2023 — and growing demand for medical weight-loss solutions, as reported by Grand View Research.The landscape is shifting as Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of Ozempic and Wegovy, is set to lose patent protection in Canada in January 2026 due to a missed maintenance fee in 2019.This opens the door for generic and biosimilar versions from competitors.Hims & Hers Health, a U.S. telehealth company, plans to enter the Canadian market next year, aiming to offer affordable, personalized weight-loss care.“Canada represents a significant opportunity to deliver high-quality, accessible weight-loss solutions,” said Andrew Dudum, Hims & Hers co-founder and CEO, in a press release.“As generic semaglutide becomes available for the first time globally, we’re focused on making it truly accessible, by combining affordability with trusted, personalized care at scale.”This move follows a fallout between Novo Nordisk and Hims & Hers, with the former ending their partnership over concerns about Hims & Hers’ promotion of cheaper, compounded versions of Wegovy..Study finds obesity rates in Canada rose sharply during pandemic.Novo Nordisk’s US operations executive vice president, Dave Moore, told CNBC that Hims & Hers violated laws against mass sales of compounded drugs under the pretext of personalization.In response on X, Dudum stated that Hims & Hers was, “disappointed to see Novo Nordisk management misleading the public.”As generics emerge, they could lower costs and improve access, but regulatory oversight and safety concerns will remain critical in shaping the market’s evolution.Currently, no generic semaglutide has Health Canada’s approval, but the process is underway.Sandoz, a global leader in generic medicine manufacturing, told Science in early June that it filed for approval of a generic version of semaglutide with Health Canada..Carney pledges major spending to protect and modernize Canada’s public health care .Richard Saynor, Sandoz CEO, said the company plans to potentially launch a generic GLP-1 in both Brazil and Canada in 2026.“[Canada] is the second-largest semaglutide market in the world,” Saynor said. “You’ve got to ask why. I don’t think Canadians are disproportionally large. There’s clearly a dynamic, like insulin, with cross-border business.“It’s going to be interesting to see how that evolves.”Biosimilars, which rely on existing clinical data from previous tests, could be approved swiftly and “reach the market within weeks,” Sockalingam explained.Despite their benefits, these drugs have faced controversy due to serious side effects, including kidney problems, pancreatitis, and vision issues reported by some users.
