Overview
- Health Canada approved generic semaglutide versions from Dr. Reddy’s and Apotex and those products began reaching pharmacies this week as distributors move stock to stores.
- Apotex says it has started shipping its product and Dr. Reddy’s has arrived in select pharmacies with wider rollout expected in the coming days, so availability will vary by region.
- Health Canada cleared the generics after reviewing evidence that they meet federal standards for safety, effectiveness and quality, and independent experts say the drugs contain the same active ingredient and should work the same.
- Manufacturers and analysts expect steep price cuts, with Apotex projecting roughly one-third of brand Ozempic’s price and Canadian pricing rules typically producing large discounts when generics enter.
- Sterile injectable batches will be produced outside Canada for now and Health Canada is still reviewing additional generic applications, so supply and price dynamics could change as more entrants arrive.