Weight Loss Drugs May See Price Drop to $15/Month
Why this is here: The potential for generic competition is driven by the fact that India and China together account for roughly 40 percent of the world’s population, creating a large potential market for affordable weight loss therapies.
Affordable versions of popular weight loss drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic could become available soon. Patent protection for semaglutide, the active ingredient in these medications, will expire in countries including India, China, Canada, and Russia. This will allow generic manufacturers to produce and sell the drugs at significantly lower prices.
Currently, a monthly supply of Wegovy in Austria costs around 280 euros. Experts predict generic versions could lower this cost to roughly 13 euros—about 15 US dollars—per month. India may see the first generic versions available within the next two weeks.
Novo Nordisk, the original manufacturer, is attempting to legally block generics in some countries. However, a wider availability of cheaper options is expected to increase treatment access for the over 800 million adults with obesity or diabetes in India and China alone.