The Globe and Mail reports in its Wednesday edition that Canadian employers and their employees can expect to see drug plan savings as generic versions of diabetes and obesity medications are introduced, cutting insurance costs.
The Globe's Clare O'Hara and Chris Hannay write that Novo Nordisk's Ozempic and Wegovy -- two brand-name semaglutide drugs prescribed for diabetes and weight loss -- will lose market exclusivity in Canada in January. That means generic pharmaceutical companies can launch versions of semaglutide, which could lead to prices falling by 65 per cent.
The industry expects at least one generic semaglutide product to become available in Canada by the summer, with multiple versions out by the end of 2026.
Insurers are already preparing their clients, known as plan sponsors, for changes to expect in their group benefit plans.
Frédéric Leblanc, a pharmacist at insurer iA Financial, expects the introduction of generics to "significantly impact" group insurance plans. For semaglutide, it is expected to reach 35 per cent of the Ozempic brand price once at least three generic options are on the market, presenting "substantial savings for both plan sponsors and members alike," Mr. Leblanc said.
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