Generic Ozempic production an ‘exciting time for Canada,’ doctor says

Dr. Sue Pedersen says patience should discuss with their doctor ‘on a case by case basis’ as to whether they should use the generic or brand name medication.

A Canadian endocrinologist says the country is entering a pivotal moment for access to diabetes and weight-loss drugs as generic versions of Ozempic move closer to pharmacy shelves.

“It’s a really exciting time for Canada,” said Dr. Sue Pedersen, a Calgary-based endocrinologist and obesity medicine specialist, in an interview with CTV News Channel Saturday.

“The medication is going to become cheaper for a lot of people who currently can’t afford to pay for the brand name, Ozempic, which is for diabetes, or Wegovy, which is for weight loss.”

Drug companies in Canada are allowed to make lower-priced generic versions of Ozempic starting this week.

• Canada clears generic Ozempic production, but pharmacies won’t stock it immediately

As of Dec. 29, Health Canada had received nine submissions seeking approval to make semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy, the brand-name diabetes and weight-loss drugs manufactured by Novo Nordisk.

Canada is the only country where Novo Nordisk allowed the patent for its semaglutide drugs to expire, clearing the way for generic manufacturers to seek approval.

Pedersen said Health Canada’s review process means patients can expect comparable products once generics are authorized, though individual responses may vary.

“Health Canada approves generic medication if they’re satisfied that they have similar effectiveness and safety as the brand name,” she said.

“So, it should work similarly to the brand that said, we do see when generics become available for with the history of many other drugs in Canada, sometimes people don’t respond as well to generic versions.”

Price remains one of the biggest unknowns as production ramps up this week.

“As soon as the generic medications become available in pharmacies, we do expect that they will be cheaper immediately. Now how cheap? We don’t know,” Pedersen said.

She also pointed to uncertainty around how generic semaglutide will be dispensed, including whether patients will be able to manage doses the same way they do with brand-name pens.

Pedersen said broader access to diabetes and weight-loss drugs could make a meaningful difference, but warned medication alone is not a cure-all.

“We still have one in three Canadian adults living with obesity, and if you look at overweight and obesity together, two out of three Canadian adults fall in that group,” she said.

“It’s not just about obesity medication, but also lifestyle change support, psychological support, and access to bariatric surgery.”

With files from The Canadian Press