The blockbuster weight loss drug sold as Ozempic and Wegovy [has, on 21 March, gone] generic in countries that are home to 40 percent of the world’s population, significantly lowering the price of a costly medicine that had been largely unaffordable to nearly all but the wealthiest people. On Saturday, Novo Nordisk, the company that until now has had a monopoly on selling the drug, will lose patent protection in several of the world’s most populous countries. The first generic versions are expected to arrive in India as soon as this weekend. In the coming months, the generics are also expected to become available in China, Canada, Brazil, Turkey and South Africa.
From the reports that i have read (am indian), 20+ generics are expected, within roughly 2 months or so, with previous price being something along 10k INR (roughly 100USD) a month to about 3-4k INR (30-40 USD) a month. Drugs have always been kinda cheap here (as an example, a simple paracetamol (tylenol) tablet costs 1 INR (~1cent US)), so it is still expensive (for vast majority, it is more than 2-3 days of work), but much better. hope people use this cautiously though with reasonable expectations.
Sounds to me like the US is going to continue to be a country of morbidly obese poor people in a much skinnier world.
The rest of the world doesn’t need Ozempic.