Generic semaglutide is now reaching Canadian pharmacies at about $100 a month, a sharp price drop that could widen access while testing early supply.
Generic versions of semaglutide, the drug widely known by the brand name Ozempic, have begun reaching Canadian pharmacies at roughly $100 a month, a price shift that pharmacies expect will quickly drive up demand.
The rollout began last week at some pharmacies across Canada, including select Rexall and Shoppers Drug Mart locations, according to CBC News. For patients who had been paying several hundred dollars a month for the brand-name drug, the arrival of generics could change whether they can afford to start or resume treatment.
One patient cited by CBC, Tiana Nordstrom of Powell River, B.C., said she stopped taking Ozempic after her monthly cost rose to about $400. Nordstrom, who was pre-diabetic when she began using the medication in 2022, said the lower generic price is “life-changing” and that she will likely start taking it again.
The first days of availability have already brought signs of tight supply. Tim Brady, a pharmacist in southwestern Ontario who owns Brady’s Drug Store locations in Windsor-Essex, told CBC that generic stock moved quickly after it became available. He said his pharmacies obtained a version from Toronto-based Apotex, while a version from Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories was on back order from his supplier.
Brady said he expects prices could fall further, possibly to about $75 a month, as more generic supply enters the market. For now, though, availability appears uneven. Loblaw Companies Limited, which owns Shoppers Drug Mart, said generics are at all of its stores, but supply may vary early in the rollout and customers can check availability online.
The lower price is also intensifying competition with the brand-name product. Novo Nordisk, Ozempic’s parent company, has launched a savings card intended to let eligible patients remain on the brand version while paying less, with costs aligned more closely with generic alternatives. The company said it has an established supply of Ozempic across Canada.
Health providers are also warning that cheaper access does not mean the medication is appropriate for everyone. Felix Health, a Canadian virtual care platform, said requests for a weight-loss visit with a doctor were 14 times higher in the first 24 hours after generics came online, with most requests coming from new patients.
Tracey Phillips, Felix Health’s chief pharmacy officer, said clinicians review a patient’s health history, current medications, contraindications and treatment goals before deciding whether a GLP-1 medication is appropriate. “Lower cost may bring more people forward, but it does not change the clinical standard,” she told CBC.
The immediate question for patients is how quickly generic supply can catch up with demand. Pharmacies expect interest to rise as word spreads, but early back orders suggest the national rollout may take time to stabilize.
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