Generic Semaglutide Could Cost Just $3 Monthly

ISLAMABAD: (Web Desk) – A groundbreaking anti-obesity and diabetes drug, Semaglutide, could cost as little as $3 per month to manufacture once it goes off patent later this month, offering a major opportunity to expand access in low- and middle-income countries.

Semaglutide, the key ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy, has been shown to produce significant weight loss in patients and help manage Type 2 diabetes and other obesity-related health conditions.

Patent protections for semaglutide are expiring soon in countries including Brazil, China, and India, while 150 additional countries never patented the drug. Researchers from Britain, South Africa, and New Zealand calculated that generic production could reduce the price to a fraction of the current U.S. cost of around $200 per month.

Dr. Samuel Cross noted that obesity and diabetes significantly raise the risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, and cancer. “If generic production reduces prices to sustainable levels, millions more people could access treatment,” he said.

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Globally, Type 2 diabetes affects hundreds of millions, while clinical obesity causes 3.7 million deaths annually. Researchers estimate that the 160 countries where semaglutide will be patent-free represent 69% of people with Type 2 diabetes and 84% of those with clinical obesity worldwide.

Professor Francois Venter highlighted the precedent set by generic drugs for HIV, TB, malaria, and hepatitis, saying, “We can repeat this medical success story for semaglutide.” The study was released directly by the researchers and is not yet peer-reviewed.