Canadians could get more affordable version of Ozempic in early 2026. Here’s how – CBC

Patients can currently pay $400 a month for popular weight-loss drug

Jul 15, 2025

Cheaper versions of medications to treat obesity, like Ozempic and Wegovy, could be on the market in Canada as soon as January.

Ozempic is a social media darling — with celebrities singing its praises and people posting about major weight loss. But a patient can pay $400 a month for such medications, says Dr. Sanjeev Sockalingam, Obesity Canada’s scientific director and a professor of psychiatry at the University of Toronto.

He says his patients have been frustrated and disappointed by the “prohibitive” cost.

But now, several companies say they intend to market cheaper versions of such drugs. Here’s what medical experts say:

What are these medications?
Injectable prescription drugs, sold as Ozempic and Wegovy, and the pill Rybelsus all contain the ingredient semaglutide. This class of medication, known as glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists (GLP-1s), regulate blood sugar levels and appetite.

Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/ozempic-generic-canada-weight-loss-1.7584919