Cheaper obesity drugs could be coming to Canada this summer as Health Canada reviews generic drugs
Health Canada says it is reviewing nine presentations Generic versions of popular weight loss drugs could bring down prices, pharmaceutical experts say.
The submissions in Canada are for generic forms of semaglutide, the active ingredient in Novo Nordisk’s injectable prescription drugs Ozempic and Vegovy, which are approved by Health Canada for diabetes and weight loss, respectively.
The drugs are in a class called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) therapy that mimics a natural gut hormone to help control blood sugar levels, slow digestion, and increase feelings of fullness. Common side effects of semaglutide may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pain. Fatigue, constipation and headache are also possible.
Canada is the only country allowing Novo Nordisk to expire on the patent of its semaglutide drugs, paving the way for “regulatory exclusivity” to expire on January 4. That’s why Canada could become the first country to offer cheaper versions of Ozempic and Vegovy to people who have prescriptions, but pharmaceutical experts say that’s unlikely to happen right away.
Here’s what we know about the drugs, their approvals and pricing.
The US Food and Drug Administration has approved a pill version of Novo Nordisk’s blockbuster weight loss drug Vegovy, with the company claiming it offers a more convenient option than the previous injectable version.
Wegovi pill approved in America
on monday, Novo Nordisk announced that a single tablet of Vegovy is now available in the US as a starting dose. The company said higher doses would be available in the US by the end of the week.
When asked about the availability of the Vegovy pill in Canada, Novo Nordisk directed CBC News to its US media release.
CBC News has also asked Health Canada whether it has received an application from Novo Nordisk for a generic version of the drug in pill form or pill form of Wegovi. The regulator did not immediately respond.
Novo Nordisk also offers a pill approved by Health Canada for the treatment of type 2 diabetes that contains semaglutide and is sold under the name Ribelsus.
What are the common versions?
Generics are pharmaceuticalally equivalent to brand-name drugs, according to Health Canada, which says it examines data provided by companies to ensure that submissions meet criteria for safety, quality and effectiveness before authorizing any drug, whether it’s a brand-name or generic version.
According to Health Canada spokesperson Mark Johnson, evaluation of generic semaglutide drugs is more complex than many other drug approvals.
This is because semaglutide was originally developed using biological processes, but the generic version can be made using more simple chemical means.
cross country checkup38:16Ozempic goes generic: Canada’s weight loss revolution?
The World Health Organization conditionally recommended glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) therapy for the treatment of obesity in December 2025. Canada could soon become the first country in the world to offer cheaper versions of Ozempic and Vegovi to people with prescriptions. Our Question: Would you take any medication to lose weight…or are you already taking it?
When a patent expires, other companies are allowed to make copies of the drug. These companies do not have to spend as much money studying the drug, which reduces the price. canadian drug agency,
“Generic semaglutide products are complex synthetic products that are pharmaceuticalally equivalent to the brand-name drug, but have potential differences that may affect safety and efficacy,” Johnson said.
“The manufacturer must demonstrate that these differences do not affect the safety, efficacy, or quality of the drug compared to the brand-name drug.”
Price determination It depends on a few factors, said Mina Tadrus, an associate professor in the Leslie Dann Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Toronto. These include whether a prescription drug is available in a branded formulation, how many cheaper generic versions are available on the market, the formulation of the drug – oral or injectable – as well as the dosage.
Given those challenges, Tadrus says he doesn’t expect cheaper versions to be available immediately.
“I don’t think anyone is expecting that we will approve any products in January or February,” Tadrus said in an interview on Monday. He suggested that summer would be more likely.
The World Health Organization has issued its first guidelines for the use of GLP-1, such as Ozempic, to treat obesity. The National’s Erica Johnson asked Dr. Daniel Drucker – whose research helped lead to the development of these drugs – about the significance of the announcement and the key things to consider when using GLP-1 for weight loss.
What approval could mean for patients
Canadians taking GLP-1 drugs for weight loss pay $200 to $400 per month, usually out-of-pocket because many Canadian insurance companies do not cover drugs for obesity.
“We’re probably looking at $100 to $125, $150 a month, which is a lot less than what it is right now,” Tadrus said of three or more cheaper options coming to the Canadian market.
Dr. Sanjeev Sockalingam, Obesity Canada’s scientific director says access is another consideration.
“I know there are many patients in my clinic who do not have insurance coverage for it (and) cannot afford these medications, which limits one tool in our toolbox for managing obesity,” Sockalingam said.
Given the impact that obesity has, it would be welcome to have generic drugs that could bring the price down significantly, he said. one of three Canadian.
Which companies are applying?
The list of companies that have applied for review of generic submissions by Health Canada includes Sandoz Canada, Apotex, Teva Canada, Taro Pharmaceuticals and Aspen Pharmacare Canada.
The remaining companies have not been named because their submissions were received before April 1, 2023, when Health Canada’s policy was changed to require sponsors to be named, Johnson said.
