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Canada Approves First Generic Ozempic
29 Apr
Summary
- Health Canada approved a generic version of Ozempic from Dr Reddy's.
- This marks the first generic semaglutide approval in Canada and G7.
- Generic drugs in Canada are often 45 to 90 percent cheaper.

Health Canada announced on Tuesday the approval of a generic semaglutide injection, a version of the popular anti-diabetes drug Ozempic, from Dr Reddy's Laboratories. This is the first generic version of the drug to be approved in Canada and notably, the first within the G7 countries. The submission for approval was made by the Hyderabad-headquartered company in January 2024.
The semaglutide injection is prescribed for managing blood sugar levels in adult patients with type 2 diabetes and has also gained recognition for its efficacy in weight management. Health Canada authorized the drug following a thorough review, ensuring it meets rigorous standards for safety, efficacy, and quality.
This approval is anticipated to bring significant cost savings to Canadian patients and the healthcare system, as generic medications in the country are often 45 to 90 percent cheaper than brand-name drugs. Health Canada affirmed its commitment to ongoing safety and effectiveness monitoring for all authorized semaglutide products.