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Generic versions of Ozempic are expected to pop up on Alberta pharmacy shelves soon, along with lower price tags.
Two drug companies recently received Health Canada approval for their Type 2 diabetes medication which, like the brand name version, is expected to be widely prescribed off-label for weight loss.
“I’m expecting there will be super high demand for them,” said Wessam Sakr, pharmacy manager and co-owner of Edgemont Family Pharmacy and Travel Clinic in Calgary.
He’s already hearing from patients who are interested in the generic semaglutide injections.
According to Sakr, who also runs a weight management clinic, Ozempic can cost anywhere from $280 to more than $500 a month, depending on the dose. That can be a big barrier for people.
According to Health Canada, generic medications can be 45 to 90 per cent cheaper than brand name options. Apotex Inc. said its version will cost one third of the brand name medication.
“Lots of people keep calling me, asking me when it’s going to be available because they want to start their weight loss but financially they cannot afford [it],” Sakr said.
“Lots of people are waiting for the generic to start their journey.”
WATCH | Cheaper GLP-1s arrive in Canada: Are they safe?
Cheaper GLP-1s arrive in Canada: Are they safe?
A generic version of semaglutide, more commonly known by the brand name Ozempic, is now available in Canada as patent protections expire. For The National, CBC’s Christine Birak breaks down the key details about the drug’s safety, production and cost.
The drugs mimic a naturally occurring hormone that is released in the gut, and they can slow digestion, help regulate blood sugars and reduce the feeling of hunger.
“Often people feel they’re not as obsessed with food or they can stop [eating] sooner,” said Dr. Ronald Sigal, an endocrinologist and a professor of medicine at the University of Calgary.
High-quality studies on semaglutides have included a diet component, he noted.
“There are many people who are struggling with their weight, and this medication is one of the most effective ones in terms of helping with it, and it’s also good in terms of controlling Type 2 diabetes and fatty liver.”
And, according to Sigal, these drugs appear to offer additional benefits, including protecting against a second heart attack and repairing liver damage due to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
Sigal has a number of patients who have benefited from the brand name version but who struggle to afford it.
“The price is likely to be a lot lower than brand name Ozempic and Wegovy have been, making them a lot more affordable to many more people,” he said.
Stock expected soon
Shipments of the semaglutide injections have started moving across the country.
Sakr was notified last week that he would be able to start ordering limited stock this week.
Apotex told CBC News its two-milligram and four-milligram pre-filled pens will start hitting Alberta pharmacy shelves “any day.”
“While shipments have begun, timing for arrival in individual pharmacies may vary as products continue to move through the supply chain and as demand evolves,” said a spokesperson for Vital, which represents manufacturers, wholesalers and other businesses involved in Canada’s pharmaceutical supply chain.
Health Canada is currently reviewing a number of other submissions for generic semaglutides.
“As the amount of generics come on the market it becomes more and more and more competitive,” said Mathieu Giroux, a pharmacist at Cambrian Pharmacy in Calgary.
“If the price gets cut all the way down to 50 per cent when there’s a lot of generics on the market, then the boom will be even crazier.”
WATCH | Ozempic, other GLP-1 drugs may help with dozens of other conditions:
Ozempic, other GLP-1 drugs may help with dozens of other conditions
A new study published in the journal Nature Medicine suggests that GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic and Wegovy could have a host of other potential benefits beyond treating obesity, including a reduction in drug and alcohol abuse and Alzheimer’s disease.
Health officials in Alberta said both pharmaceutical companies approved to produce the generics have provided submissions for provincial coverage, and those are currently under review.
“While a decision timeline cannot be confirmed at this stage, we are committed to a thorough and timely assessment and will keep Albertans informed as the process moves forward,” said Tom McMillan, spokesperson for Primary and Preventative Health Services.
Alberta currently provides Ozempic coverage for select groups, including seniors, only through special authorization and only for Type 2 diabetes treatment after other therapies have been tried.
Sigal expects the arrival of generics will prompt more insurance companies to offer coverage for this type of drug.