Health Canada approves 2nd generic version of Ozempic — and it’s Canadian

TORONTO — Health Canada has approved the second generic version of brand-name Ozempic, this one manufactured by Canadian company Apotex.

The authorization for the medication called Apo-Semaglutide Injection comes just three days after Health Canada approved the first generic semaglutide made by Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories in India.

The drugs, administered with an injector pen once a week, are approved for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes in adults, but Ozempic is often prescribed off-label for weight loss.

Canada is the first of the G-7 countries to authorize generic semaglutide, the active ingredient in Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic.

Apotex is a global pharmaceutical company headquartered in Toronto.

Although 80 per cent of the company’s products are made in Canada, the semaglutide injectors require a “sterile injectable facility,” so they will be manufactured in India by Orbicular Pharmaceutical Technologies, Martin Arès, president of Apotex Canada, said in an interview.

Arès said he is hoping the semaglutide pens will be available in Canada within weeks.

“It’s not a question of six months or two months or anything like that. It should be any time soon,” he said.

Many people without drug coverage have been eagerly waiting for generic semaglutide because the brand name original can cost hundreds of dollars a month.

How much cheaper generic semaglutide will be than Ozempic depends on how many generic options are approved and hit the market.

According to the pricing structure of the pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance, the first generic medication could cost 75 to 85 per cent of the brand name. Once a second medication enters the market, the price for both drops to 50 per cent. When there are three or more generic products available in Canada, the cost would decrease to about 35 per cent of brand-name Ozempic’s price.

Arès confirmed that the price of Apo-Semaglutide will follow that pricing structure and will be a “fraction of the cost” of Ozempic.

“Our role at Apotex is really to bring affordability, sustainability, and, you know, we’ve heard also about supply chain challenge(s) that the original company had in the past,” he said.

“By offering not only more affordable solutions, but more options to Canadians, we believe that it’s a great way to ensure more sustainability of the supply chain in Canada.”

Health Canada said in a news release that it continues to review seven other submissions from additional companies for generic semaglutide.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 1, 2026.

Canadian Press health coverage receives support through a partnership with the Canadian Medical Association. CP is solely responsible for this content.

Nicole Ireland, The Canadian Press