Americans are unlikely to see generic versions of semaglutide — the active ingredient in Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic and Wegovy — until at least the end of 2031, according to a May 13 NBC News report.
Novo Nordisk first applied for a U.S. patent on semaglutide in 2006. While standard drug patents last 20 years, patent extensions and secondary patents have delayed generic competition in the U.S., experts told NBC News.
Ozempic can cost close to $1,000 per month in the U.S., though Novo Nordisk recently introduced a $349 monthly cash price. The company also plans to reduce Ozempic’s and Wegovy’s monthly list prices to $675 in 2027.
The report said Novo Nordisk has filed at least 49 semaglutide-related patents covering formulations, delivery devices and treatment indications. According to the Initiative for Medicines, Access, and Knowledge, those patents could delay generic semaglutide entry in the U.S. until 2042.
Generic semaglutide products have already been approved in India and Canada, with additional approvals expected in China, Brazil and South Africa, according to the report.
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