Key takeaways

  • A generic version of Wegovy is not currently available in the United States due to existing patents held by the manufacturer, Novo Nordisk, that may be active until 2041.
  • When the U.S. patent for semaglutide (the active ingredient in Wegovy) expires, other manufacturers will be able to produce and sell generic versions of the drug, offering potentially more affordable options.
  • While waiting for generic options, individuals can consult with their doctor about potential alternatives like compounded semaglutide (with a prescription) or other GLP-1 drugs such as liraglutide.

In this article, you can learn about the rights to brand-name drugs, such as Wegovy, in the United States. You can also learn how these rights concern the development of generic versions.

Wegovy is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. It’s approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to:

* Wegovy’s use for MASH was approved under the FDA’s accelerated approval program based on early study results. The decision to fully approve Wegovy will depend on the results of additional studies.

Wegovy works in combination with reduced calorie intake and increased physical activity. Its active ingredient is semaglutide.

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No, Wegovy is currently available only as a brand-name drug.

A generic version of a drug uses the same active ingredients as the brand-name drug on which it is based. For example, assume that a generic version of the brand-name drug Wegovy is eventually developed. If so, both the generic version and Wegovy would have the same active ingredient: semaglutide.

Before the approval of a brand-name drug, the FDA requires that clinical trials demonstrate the new drug is safe and effective. But for generic drug approval, the FDA does not require repeating clinical trials. This is one reason generic versions of drugs generally cost less than their brand-name versions.

Like its original brand-name drug, a generic drug has the same:

  • effectiveness
  • quality
  • risk
  • safety
  • dosage

Once a brand-name drug is approved by the FDA in the United States, its manufacturer has certain rights to the drug. The rights to the active ingredient of a brand-name drug are usually protected by patents.

In general, a patent for the active ingredient of a brand-name drug lasts 20 years from the date the patent application is filed. While the patent is active, no other manufacturer can market either generic versions of the brand-name drug or another brand-name drug with the same active ingredient. But once the patent expires, other manufacturers can market either.

For example, Novo Nordisk manufactures Wegovy and currently owns the patent for its active ingredient semaglutide. While this patent is active, no other company can market a generic version or another brand-name drug with semaglutide as its active ingredient.

In addition to Wegovy, Novo Nordisk also manufactures Ozempic and Rybelsus. The active ingredient in both Ozempic and Rybelsus is also semaglutide.

Novo Nordisk holds patents that protect the active ingredient of all three brand-name drugs. This means it is the only company that can make FDA-approved drugs with semaglutide as the active ingredient for a period of time.

Novo Nordisk may hold patents for semaglutide in other countries. But in the United States, several different patents protect semaglutide, some of which may still be active in 2041. Because of this, it’s not clear exactly when generic versions may become available in the United States.

If you’re looking for a less costly option to Wegovy, it’s important to talk with your doctor. They can discuss the following options for certain situations.

Compounded drug

A compounded drug might be appropriate when an FDA-approved drug is not available commercially.

An example of this is if a drug isn’t available to fill a prescription because a manufacturer backorder has resulted in a drug shortage. The compounded drug may not be an exact copy of the brand-name drug. It is also not approved by the FDA for safety, quality, or effectiveness. Compounded drugs generally cost less than brand-name drugs with the same active ingredient.

The market has had shortages of semaglutide injection in the past. This has included Wegovy. But it’s important to know that the FDA prioritizes the assessment and development of generic drugs for medications in shortage. This includes some GLP-1 drugs.

You may be able to access compounded semaglutide from a state-licensed pharmacy or special physician compounding facility in certain situations. A compounded drug requires a doctor’s prescription.

Different generic, same drug class

The FDA has approved one generic GLP-1 drug that’s in the same drug class as Wegovy. This generic GLP-1 is liraglutide for injection (the generic version of Victoza). It differs from Wegovy because its active ingredient is liraglutide, not semaglutide.

Liraglutide is approved to lower blood sugar in people ages 10 years and older who have type 2 diabetes. Like Wegovy, liraglutide is used along with diet and exercise.

A doctor might prescribe liraglutide off-label if you meet certain criteria of liraglutide’s indications (uses). Off-label use is when doctors prescribe a drug for a purpose other than what it’s approved to treat or help prevent.

If prescribing liraglutide, your doctor would need to check that you don’t have contraindications to it or GLP-1 drugs. Contraindications are health conditions or other factors that could raise the risk of harm in taking the drug.

Your doctor can discuss a suitable treatment for your condition.

Novo Nordisk currently holds the patent for semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy. It may hold patents for semaglutide in other countries. But in the United States, its patents protecting semaglutide may be active for some time. Some of these patents may expire as late as 2041.

While the U.S. patent is active, Novo Nordisk is the only company that can market drugs with semaglutide as the active ingredient in the United States.

Once the U.S. patent for semaglutide expires, other drugmakers can sell generic versions of the brand-name drug Wegovy. But it’s not clear when generic semaglutide will become available in the United States.

In the meantime, your doctor can guide you toward possible treatment options for your condition.

Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.