Health Canada says it is reviewing nine performances for generic versions of popular weight-loss drugs that pharmaceutical experts say could lower the price.
The applications filed in Canada are for generic forms of semaglutide, the active ingredient in Novo Nordisk's injectable prescription drugs Ozempic and Vegovy, which have been approved by Health Canada for the treatment of diabetes and weight loss, respectively.
These medications belong to a class of drugs called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), which mimic a natural gut hormone and help control blood sugar, slow digestion, and increase feelings of fullness. Common side effects of semaglutide may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Fatigue, constipation and headaches may also occur.
Canada is the only country where Novo Nordisk has allowed the patent on its semaglutide drugs to expire, paving the way for the end of “regulatory exclusivity” on January 4. That's why Canada could become the first country to offer cheaper versions of Ozempic and Vegovi to people with prescriptions, but pharmaceutical experts say that's unlikely to happen immediately.
Here's what we know about the drugs, their approvals and prices.
The US Food and Drug Administration has approved a tablet version of Wegovy, a popular weight-loss drug from Novo Nordisk, with the company saying it offers a more convenient option than the previous injectable version.
Wegovy tablet approved in US
On Monday Novo Nordisk announced that the tablet form of Wegovy is now available in the United States as a starting dose. Higher doses will be available in the U.S. by the end of the week, the company said.
When asked about the availability of the Wegovy tablet in Canada, Novo Nordisk directed CBC News to its U.S. press release.
CBC News also asked Health Canada if it had received an application for Novo Nordisk's Wegovy tablet or a generic tablet version of the drug. The regulator did not react immediately.
Novo Nordisk also offers a Health Canada-approved tablet for the treatment of type 2 diabetes that contains semaglutide and is sold under the name Rybelsus.
What are generic versions?
According to Health Canada, generic drugs are pharmaceutically equivalent to brand-name drugs. It says it reviews data submitted by companies to ensure the data presented meets criteria for safety, quality and effectiveness before approving any drug, whether brand name or generic.
Evaluating generic versions of semaglutide is more complex than evaluating the approval of many other drugs, said Mark Johnson, a spokesman for Health Canada.
This is because semaglutide was originally developed using biological processes, but generic versions can be made using simpler chemicals.
Cross-country check38:16Ozempic Goes Generic: Canadian Weight Loss Revolution?
In December 2025, the World Health Organization conditionally recommended glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) therapy for the treatment of obesity. Canada could soon become the first country in the world to offer people with prescriptions a cheaper version of Ozempic and Wegovy. Our question: would you take the drug to lose weight… or have you already taken it?
When the patent expires, other companies are allowed to make copies of the drug. According to the company, these companies don't have to spend a lot of money studying the drug, which lowers the price. Canadian Drug Enforcement Agency.
“Generic semaglutide is a complex synthetic product that is pharmaceutically equivalent to the brand-name drug, but with possible differences that may affect safety and effectiveness,” Johnson said.
“The manufacturer must demonstrate that these differences do not affect the safety, effectiveness, or quality of the drug compared to the brand-name drug.”
Prices depends on several factors, says Mina Tadrous, an assistant professor in the Leslie Deng Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Toronto. These include whether the prescription drug is available in a brand-name form, how many cheaper generics are available on the market, the form of the drug—oral or injectable—and the dosage.
Given these issues, Tadrous says he doesn't expect cheaper versions to be available right away.
“I don’t think anyone expects that we’ll see any products approved in January or February,” Tadrous said in an interview Monday, suggesting summer would be more likely.
The World Health Organization has issued its first recommendations on the use of GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic to treat obesity. The National's Erica Johnson asks Dr. Daniel Drucker, whose research helped develop these drugs, to reveal the significance of this announcement and the key points to consider when using GLP-1 for weight loss.
What approval could mean for patients
Canadians taking GLP-1 drugs for weight loss pay between $200 and $400 a month, usually out of pocket because many Canadian insurance companies don't cover obesity drugs.
“We're looking at probably $100 to $125, $150 a month, which is a lot lower than what it is now,” Tadrous said of the three or more cheaper alternatives expected to hit the Canadian market.
Dr. Sanjeev Sokalingam, Obesity Canada's scientific director says affordability is another factor to consider.
“I know there are a lot of patients in my clinics who don’t have insurance for this. [and] cannot afford these medications, which limits one tool in our toolbox to fight obesity,” Sokalingam said.
According to him, the availability of generic drugs, which could significantly reduce the price, is welcome since obesity affects one of three Canadians.
Which companies are applying?
The list of companies that have applied for generic drug applications to be reviewed by Health Canada includes Sandoz Canada, Apotex, Teva Canada, Taro Pharmaceuticals and Aspen Pharmacare Canada.
The remaining companies were not named because their applications were received before April 1, 2023, when Health Canada policy changed to require sponsors to be named, Johnson said.
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