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Generic Ozempic Is Coming To Billions Of People

Novo Nordisk is already struggling with competition in the US, and it’s about to hurt elsewhere, too: The drugmaker’s semaglutide patent expires today in some of the world’s most populated countries, including India and China, where low-cost Ozempic and Wegovy generics will soon be available to billions of people.

Patients there who can’t afford Novo’s name-brand blockbusters are expected to jump on the generic versions:

In China and India, where 1.1+ billion adults are overweight or have diabetes, Ozempic and Wegovy can cost between $100 and $200 per month.
Analysts predict that generic prices could ultimately sink to $15/month amid fierce manufacturer competition—about 50 generic semaglutide brands are expected to enter India alone, some as soon as this weekend.
Within months, generics will likely flood China, Brazil, Turkey, South Africa, and Canada as well.

Ahead of the expirations, Novo tried to get generics blocked in India, China, and Brazil, and lowered prices in China and India.

In the US…Novo’s GLP-1s will remain patent-protected into the 2030s.

Meanwhile…Novo archnemesis Eli Lilly said yesterday that its experimental diabetes shot outperformed all diabetes drugs on the market in a recent study. Also yesterday, the FDA approved a higher-dose version of Wegovy, which Novo hopes will help it to regain ground against Lilly’s Zepbound.—ML

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Generic Ozempic Is Coming To Billions Of People

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