Sandoz Set to Slash Canadian Weight-loss Drug Prices by Up to 70 Percent Generics Could Expand Patient Access

Swiss pharmaceutical company Sandoz has announced plans to launch generic weight-loss medications in Canada at discounts of up to 70% compared to current branded versions once patents start expiring next year. CEO Richard Saynor told the Financial Times that while final pricing for Sandoz’s generic semaglutide is not set, typical reductions after patent expiry could see monthly costs plummet to $40–$50.

Currently, branded weight-loss and diabetes drugs such as Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic and Wegovy, and Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro and Zepbound, retail for $200–$400 per month. The active ingredients behind these blockbuster medications—semaglutide and tirzepatide—have fueled massive demand as obesity and diabetes rates soar globally.

Sandoz’s move could make treatment affordable for two to three times more patients, according to Saynor, as more generic competitors are expected to enter the market. A Sandoz spokesperson confirmed these remarks, clarifying that Saynor was referencing typical generic pricing trends and not specific figures for their upcoming semaglutide product.

This aggressive price strategy comes as global demand for effective obesity and diabetes treatments continues to surge. Other generic drugmakers, including Biocon, have also outlined plans to enter the Canadian market with lower-cost alternatives in the coming years.