The first generic semaglutide has been approved by Health Canada, and it’s got everyone talking! Including me – check out my interview on CTV National News on the topic at the YouTube link above. We don’t know when it will be available in pharmacies or how much it will cost, but it will be cheaper than the current brand price for Ozempic, and that is great!
Getting a bit lost in all of the excitement is the important point that generic semaglutide has been approved for people with type 2 diabetes (ie, Ozempic), but has not yet been approved in generic form for weight management (ie, Wegovy). So, while generic Ozempic will be cheaper and may get more uptake through private insurance, Wegovy users will not see generic pricing or increased insurance uptake (yet – see below).
Ozempic and Wegovy are identical medications – meaning both are semaglutide – BUT, the doses are different. The highest dose pen of brand name Ozempic is 1mg weekly, and the highest dose Wegovy pen provides 2.4mg weekly. So if you are taking Wegovy 2.4mg weekly, purchasing generic Ozempic may not be a price savings, as you’d have to purchase it in the 1mg format. Where that all pans out depends on the generic pricing of course, and we don’t know that yet.
We do expect that Wegovy will become approved in generic versions in the not too far future. We also expect to see other generics become approved, and that competition should drive down the costs further. So the news is good – but a little more patience is still required as things unfold.
PS Check out Obesity Canada’s important message on the generic ozempic approval as well!
Disclaimer: I am/have been an investigator in clinical trials of semaglutide (Ozempic and Wegovy). I receive honoraria as a continuing medical education speaker and consultant from the makers of semaglutide (Novo Nordisk).
Share this blog post using your favorite social media link below!
Follow me on X/twitter! @drsuepedersen
www.drsue.ca © 2026
