Boxes of Ozempic and Wegovy made by Novo Nordisk are seen at a pharmacy in London in March, 2024.Hollie Adams/Reuters
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This year, Canada could become the first country in the West, and possibly the first in the world, to get generic — and much cheaper —copies of semaglutide, the culturally ubiquitous Type 2 diabetes drug best known as Ozempic.
Semaglutide is also sold as Wegovy, a higher-dose version approved specifically for weight loss, as well as for cardiovascular and metabolic liver disease in Canada.
How will cheaper versions of Ozempic tip the scales?
Much easier to access at a lower price point, generic Ozempic could prove to be a godsend for Canadians who are obese and in ill health, but potential side effects and an already-weight-obsessed online culture have others worried.
Meanwhile, companies are descending on Canada to be the first to capitalize on this new market.
Reporters Kelly Grant and Chris Hannay answered reader questions on the rise of Ozempic and similar drugs in Canada, what experts are saying about the health risks and benefits and how it will change the pharmaceutical industry in the country. Scroll to the comments to read their responses.
