Health Canada
Generic semaglutide injection wins approval in Canada amid expanding GLP‑1 market
Health Canada has authorized a generic version of semaglutide injection, expanding access to a lower-cost alternative to the brand name product Ozempic.
Developed by Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, the approval is expected to improve affordability and access for adults with type 2 diabetes while maintaining the same expectations for safety, efficacy, and quality as existing semaglutide therapies. This represents an important step for patients and healthcare systems facing growing demand for GLP‑1–based treatments.
In Canada, generic medications are often priced 45 to 90 percent lower than brand name counterparts, suggesting the potential for meaningful cost savings as additional generic applications, eight of which are currently under review, reach regulatory decisions.
For U.S. clinicians, Canada’s approval of the first generic semaglutide does not change current practice, as there is still no FDA‑approved generic or biosimilar semaglutide available in the U.S. and patients remain on branded products. A U.S. generic is delayed largely because Novo Nordisk holds the key U.S. patents that block market entry, including extensive, overlapping protections covering the semaglutide molecule, its long‑acting formulation, dosing regimens, manufacturing processes, and injection delivery devices, many of which extend into the early 2030s.
Source: Health Canada. (2026, April 28). Canada becomes the first G7 country to approve a generic version of semaglutide