Ozempic: Canada clears first generic by India’s Dr Reddy’s

Several pharmaceutical companies are developing cheaper versions of Ozempic, a popular diabetes drug from Novo Nordisk. These efforts have already started reducing monthly costs for some patients. Recently, Health Canada approved the first generic version. India-based Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories developed this drug. The approval was confirmed on the regulator’s website.

This move will likely increase competition in the market. It may also improve access for patients using semaglutide treatments. At the same time, it reflects a wider global trend. Drugmakers are focusing more on affordable alternatives to high-demand medicines.

Ozempic generics push India Canada

Earlier this year, India introduced copycat versions of semaglutide. This followed the expiry of certain patent protections. As a result, Novo Nordisk reduced prices for Ozempic. It also cut prices of its obesity drug Wegovy in the country.

Meanwhile, experts see Canada’s move as an important test case. They want to understand how generics perform against branded peptide drugs. Analyst Evan Seigerman from BMO Capital Markets said investors will watch this closely. They will track how well lower-cost options compete in the market.

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GLP-1 market competition rises

At the same time, Sandoz plans to launch its own generic Ozempic in Canada by June. This makes it one of the early entrants in this segment. Clearly, many companies are trying to gain a share in the growing GLP-1 therapy market.

In addition, Novo Nordisk faces strong competition from Eli Lilly. Its drugs Mounjaro and Zepbound are gaining market share. Analysts believe the impact in Canada may stay limited. Strong U.S. patent rules may prevent wider effects. Still, competition in this segment continues to grow.

Furthermore, Health Canada is reviewing eight more applications for generic semaglutide. More decisions are expected in the coming months. In Canada, generic drugs usually cost 45% to 90% less than branded ones. This could bring major savings for patients. However, Dr. Reddy’s and Novo Nordisk have not yet commented on the approval.

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