Sandoz Plans Unbranded Ozempic Rollout in Canada by June 2026

Sandoz, the generic drugmaker, expects unbranded versions of Ozempic to launch in Canada by the end of June 2026 following the expiry of a key patent, the company said in an interview with Reuters. The announcement, made by Sandoz CEO Saynor, frames Canada as a testing ground for versions of a medicine that shares the active ingredient semaglutide with Novo Nordisk's weight loss injection Wegovy and that is frequently used off label as an alternative.

The planned entry underscores the rapid evolution of the market for GLP 1 receptor agonists, the class of drugs that includes semaglutide. Ozempic and Wegovy have been major revenue drivers for Novo Nordisk in recent years, drawing intense demand from patients and highlighting issues of access and cost. Generic or unbranded competition typically exerts downward pressure on prices and eases supply constraints for payers and patients, particularly in national markets with public drug coverage such as Canada.

Sandoz has signalled a strategic approach by selecting Canada as the initial market. Canadian patent law and regulatory timelines can differ from larger markets such as the United States and the European Union, and a Canadian launch allows Sandoz to gauge manufacturing scale up, distribution logistics, and payer responses before attempting broader rollouts. Industry analysts view such a phased approach as prudent given the technical complexity of producing peptide based medicines and the scrutiny generics face when substituting for therapeutics that have both chronic disease and weight loss indications.

The arrival of unbranded semaglutide could have immediate implications for patients and health care payers. Private insurers and public drug plans may see reduced expenditure on branded semaglutide products if unbranded versions are deemed interchangeable. For patients who have faced difficulty obtaining prescriptions due to high branded prices, more affordable options could increase access and adherence. That shift would weigh on Novo Nordisk's pricing power for Ozempic and Wegovy, although the company may seek to protect margin through new formulations, patient support programs, or litigation where patent boundaries remain contested.

Beyond near term pricing effects, the development highlights a longer term transition in the pharmaceutical landscape. A wave of competition is likely to follow as patents expire, prompting innovation in next generation GLP 1 drugs while simultaneously expanding availability of existing molecules. Regulators, payers, and providers will need to adapt to a market where a class of medicines moves from premium brand exclusivity to becoming part of mainstream chronic disease treatment.

The Reuters interview also noted the outlet's own reporting history on the sector, referencing coverage that contributed to a Beat Coverage of the Year award. That spotlight reflects how the rise of semaglutide therapies has become a central economic and public health story, with implications for corporate earnings, health policy, and patient access around the world.