Novo Nordisk loses Canadian patent for Semaglutide

[holiday]

https://www.science.org/content/blog-post/novo-nordisk-s-canadian-mistake

Good summary on slashdot / alterslash: https://alterslash.org/#article-23719787 which is short enough, so I'll put it here.

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Pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk forfeited patent protection for semaglutide — the active ingredient in blockbuster diabetes and weight loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy — in Canada after failing to pay a $450 maintenance fee in 2019. The company had paid maintenance fees through 2018 but requested a refund for the 2017 fee, apparently seeking more time to decide whether to continue protecting the patent.

When the 2019 fee came due at $450 with late penalties, Novo never paid despite having a one-year grace period. Canadian patent authorities confirmed the patent “cannot be revived” once lapsed. The oversight is particularly costly given Canada represents the world’s second-largest semaglutide market, worth billions annually. Generic drugmaker Sandoz plans to launch a competing version in early 2026, while Novo’s U.S. patent protection extends until at least 2032.
***

 

[exploitedworkerbee]

lol, someone lost their job over that one

 

[peptideusername]

lol, someone lost their job over that one

Whoops! I knew there was something I forgot to do six years ago 🤦‍♂️

 

[jasonlovespeptides]

Well, that is certainly going to create an interesting rift in markets. Though, compounders have been ignoring their patent for years at this point.

 

[Skidude]

https://www.science.org/content/blog-post/novo-nordisk-s-canadian-mistake

Good summary on slashdot / alterslash: https://alterslash.org/#article-23719787 which is short enough, so I'll put it here.

***
Pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk forfeited patent protection for semaglutide — the active ingredient in blockbuster diabetes and weight loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy — in Canada after failing to pay a $450 maintenance fee in 2019. The company had paid maintenance fees through 2018 but requested a refund for the 2017 fee, apparently seeking more time to decide whether to continue protecting the patent.

When the 2019 fee came due at $450 with late penalties, Novo never paid despite having a one-year grace period. Canadian patent authorities confirmed the patent “cannot be revived” once lapsed. The oversight is particularly costly given Canada represents the world’s second-largest semaglutide market, worth billions annually. Generic drugmaker Sandoz plans to launch a competing version in early 2026, while Novo’s U.S. patent protection extends until at least 2032.
***

Time to start stacking Loonies instead of BTC for some of us 🙂

 

[ZippityDooDah]

Time to start stacking Loonies instead of BTC for some of us 🙂

View attachment 7351

If this all plays out as it appears like it may, I have a feeling there's going to be a surge in passport applications in the not too distant future.

 

[jdaniel30]

This could be a serious game changer. If a Canadian generic becomes available at a reasonable price, it should become increasingly difficult for America so say, "you can't have that" with the answer being that we are required to pay 10X just because. GLP-1 is indeed a life changing medication that is only available to the wealthy or those of us willing to take the risks involved in going out of mainstream sources.