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Affordable, regulated version ozonethe well-known diabetes and weight loss lens Novo NordiskComing to markets around the world, it could shake up the obesity drug field.
This change comes with the patent Semaglutidethe active ingredient in Ozempic and related products drug Like Wegovy, it started in Canada, India, China and Brazil, Bloomberg Report.
Patent expiration opens door for multiple generic drugmakers to produce lower-cost versions drugwhich can significantly lower prices and expand patient access beyond expensive brand-name options.
Analysts say this wave of generics could challenge Novo Nordisk’s dominance in the GLP-1 weight loss category and reshape competitive dynamics as global and regional manufacturers prepare for rapid launches once exclusivity ends.
In Canada, semaglutide officially lost patent protection this month, allowing domestic generic production and sales. Since generic drugs are now allowed, prices are likely to drop significantly, making the drugs more affordable for patients who previously had difficulty obtaining them.
However, the end of patent protection also raises policy and public health considerations. Patents exist to help drug companies recoup research and development costs, but generic drugs put pressure on the health care system to determine who should be patented, how drugs should be priced and what role government underwriting should play.
Novo Nordisk confirmed last year that the expiration of its Canadian semaglutide patent was intentional and part of a global strategy, rather than a missed maintenance fee that could have been affected by price controls or other strategic factors.
Ozempic was launched in the United States in 2018 for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and later gained popularity in Hollywood. lose weightWith the launch of Wegovy in 2021 comes huge recognition. High demand has strained Novo Nordisk’s production, delayed international launches and even sparked black market activity and robberies in cities around the world, including in Detroit and sao paulo brazil.
Experts warn that cheaper semaglutide could significantly reshape prescribing patterns, insurance coverage and public health strategies, especially given soaring demand for GLP-1 treatments and fierce debate over its use in medical and cosmetic weight loss.
Semaglutide remains under U.S. patent protection, and generics will remain under U.S. patent protection until around 2031 and 2035, depending on secondary protection. Once expired and approved by the FDA, generics can enter, but for now Novo Nordisk retains exclusive rights and high prices.
Last week, Amazon Pharmacy announced it now offers Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy The first oral GLP-1 weight loss drugserving insured and uninsured patients online.
Customers with insurance pay only $25 per month, while patients without insurance only pay about $149 per month. Amazon offers nationwide delivery and lets users compare prices with automatically applied coupons.