What if one of the world’s most talked-about weight-loss drugs suddenly became affordable for almost everyone?
That possibility may be closer than many think.
Researchers say semaglutide—the active ingredient behind blockbuster treatments like Ozempic and Wegovy made by Novo Nordisk—could cost as little as $3 per month to manufacture.
Once patents expire in several countries later this month.
Right now, the branded versions can cost about $200 a month in the United States. Quite a gap, right?
So what’s changing? Patent protections are ending in countries such as Brazil, China, and India.
Researchers identified 150 countries where the drug was never patented in the first place.
That opens the door for generic manufacturers to step in.
Affordable Drug Potential
By analyzing prices of other medicines after patent expiry, scientists from institutions in Britain, South Africa, and New Zealand estimated the low production cost.
“Obesity and diabetes are chronic diseases that significantly increase the risk of stroke, heart disease, kidney failure and cancer.” Samuel Cross of Imperial College London explained.
And the stakes are huge. Type 2 diabetes affects hundreds of millions worldwide, while clinical obesity contributes to 3.7 million deaths every year.
So here’s the big question: if the science already exists—and the cost could be just a few dollars.
Will lifesaving treatment finally reach the people who need it most?
