A new study has found that semaglutide — the active ingredient in blockbuster obesity and diabetes drugs like Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic and Wegovy — could cost as little as $3 per month to manufacture once patent protections expire in several countries.
Researchers said the patent for semaglutide is set to expire later this month in countries including Brazil, China and India, while it was never patented in about 150 other nations, creating an opportunity for affordable generic production.
Using pricing models based on other drugs that recently went off patent, researchers from institutions in Britain, South Africa and New Zealand estimated that a month’s supply could be produced for roughly $3 — compared with about $200 per month for branded versions in the United States.
The study noted that lower production costs could significantly expand access to treatment, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, where millions suffer from Type 2 diabetes and clinical obesity.
Experts involved in the research argued that affordable generic manufacturing could bring pricing closer to production costs while still allowing manufacturers to remain commercially viable, potentially improving global health outcomes and reducing deaths linked to obesity-related complications.
