Weight-loss injections could fall to £20 a month as generics loom

A wave of lower-cost weight-loss injections could reach the market as early as next year, potentially cutting the monthly price of semaglutide—the active ingredient in Wegovy and Ozempic—from about £200 to roughly £20. The shift is tied to Novo Nordisk’s global patent expiry in many markets, which would enable rivals to manufacture generic versions. In the UK, NHS access remains limited, pushing hundreds of thousands to buy injections from private online pharmacies at high prices.

Medicines UK says generics typically cost 20 to 90 percent less than branded versions, and competition can force price drops before patents fully lapse. The group argues cheaper options could expand treatment to more patients and ease obesity-related pressure on NHS resources. Mark Samuels, chief executive of Medicines UK, cautioned against buying from overseas pharmacies but said generics would reshape the UK market once licensed. Samuels added that the arrival of generic weight-loss jabs could be a potentially transformative opportunity for public health. The NHS currently spends about £6.5 billion a year on obesity-related issues, with more than a million hospital admissions linked to obesity annually; without effective interventions, officials warn the bill could reach £9.7 billion by 2050.

Globally, patents are due to lapse in India, Canada, China, Brazil and Turkey as soon as next year, affecting about 40 percent of the world’s population. In Britain, Novo Nordisk’s patent is not set to expire until 2031, but competition from generics is expected to filter in thereafter. Teva and Galenicum Health have pursued licenses in Europe, underscoring rising interest in semaglutide generics. Novo Nordisk said patent expiry is a natural part of a product's lifecycle and reaffirmed its commitment to innovation.

Adalvo has announced plans to offer semaglutide injections across doses from 0.25 mg to 2 mg. Sandoz, the generics arm of Swiss-based Novartis, also said it would launch unbranded semaglutide next year at discounts of up to 70 percent against branded prices. Sandoz chief executive Richard Saynor told the Financial Times that 60–70 percent cuts were realistic. The European Patent Office’s decision to overturn a move to extend Novo Nordisk’s semaglutide patent to 2033 signals growing pressure on brand-name prices.

In Britain, experts warn the NHS rollout has helped create a two-tier system: private jabs remain costly and less accessible to poorer communities. A Tony Blair Institute for Global Change report published in May found obesity rates are about 15% higher in the most deprived areas. The report cautioned that online pharmacies sometimes fail vulnerable patients, while doctors report rising incidents of people seeking jabs without proper weight verification. Authorities say semaglutide injections require a prescription, and clinicians warn against misuse.

Semaglutide works by mimicking a gut hormone that suppresses appetite, and many users lose a substantial amount of weight. On average, injections have helped people shed up to 15.3 kilograms (about 33 pounds) over about 68 weeks, with individual results varying. With NHS access limited, many patients have turned to private providers, intensifying demand and creating supply pressures as generics approach market.

Looking ahead, generic competition could reduce costs and broaden access, potentially easing obesity-related pressures on front-line services. Regulators say generics must meet the same safety, quality and efficacy standards as branded products, with manufacturing overseen under Good Manufacturing Practice by authorities such as the MHRA in Britain and the FDA in the United States. Public health experts also caution about counterfeit risk and emphasize the importance of licensed imports.

If affordability shifts materialize, it could be a turning point for obesity treatment, though actual access will depend on licensing, supply, and ongoing safety monitoring.