As demand surges for weight loss drugs, Kamil Karamali looks at rising safety concerns and potential side effects. <\/p>\n
Ozempic, the popular weight-loss drug that made headlines in Hollywood, could become much cheaper and more widely distributed in Canada \u2014 after its manufacturer\u2019s Canadian patent is set to expire in January 2026 \u2014 but that\u2019s also sparking concern that it may result in more patients abusing the drug.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think my real worry is that if you start getting into a situation where online clinics are handing out these prescriptions willy-nilly to anyone who pays their $50 processing fee,\u201d said Dr. Christopher Labos, a cardiologist and epidemiologist based in Montreal, to CTV News over Zoom on Sunday. <\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s a potential where you\u2019re going to start seeing a lot more harm from these medications.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ozempic, which was primarily used to treat diabetes, also became a popular weight-loss drug. Its sole manufacturer, global pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk, also created Wegovy, which is prescribed specifically for weight loss.<\/p>\n
Both Ozempic and Wegovy contain the active ingredient semaglutide \u2014 and with the Canadian patent for it expiring on Jan. 4, Canada would become the first country in the world where generic versions could be sold for much less, making it more accessible to the general public.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf a company makes a generic version, which is essentially a copy, most people would assume the effects of that drug would be the same as the effects of the original,\u201d said Dr. Hertzel Gerstein, a leading diabetes researcher at McMaster University. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt is extremely likely that they\u2019re going to bring it to market at a lower price than the brand names, and if it\u2019s at a lower price, then it means third-party payers such as insurance companies or the government, when they are paying for it, might be able to pay for a cheaper version of what will be construed as the same drug.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dr. Allan Grill, chief of family medicine at Oak Valley Health\u2019s Markham Stouffville Hospital, highlighted the current cost barrier for many patients.<\/p>\n
\u201cRight now, I believe it costs about $400 a month if you want to use Wegovy or semaglutide for chronic weight management,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot everyone can afford that unless you have private insurance that can cover it. It\u2019s quite expensive \u2014 so when it goes generic, it will obviously become more available because the cost will be down and there will be more of the drug for people to access.\u201d <\/p>\n
Companies applying for approval<\/p>\n