Wegovy and Ozempic have become prominent brands in the pharmaceutical industry worldwide.

To the point that, currently, one-third of drugs in development are geared towards treating obesity and diabetes, surpassing chemotherapy agents for cancer, according to Alexandre Caron, a research pharmacist at the Institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Québec (Quebec Heart and Lung Institute) and a professor at Université Laval.

Obesity research is progressing so rapidly, says the expert, that he has to update his course on these new drugs in development every six months.

Coming soon as oral tablets in Canada

Canadians will see the next generation of Ozempic and Wegovy available as oral tablets rather than injections, which should help reduce their prices. Health Canada approved them in December. They should therefore be available on the market by the end of 2026 and early 2027.

Furthermore, two other oral medications are expected to be superior to semaglutide alone, with claims of a 25% weight loss. Retatrutide could be, according to Alexandre Caron, the most effective drug ever created for the treatment of obesity and diabetes.

The prices of currently available GLP-1 receptor agonists vary considerably from country to country. Ozempic has been available in India since December 2025. A four-dose pen sells for as little as US$24.35. In Quebec, it costs approximately CA$250.

Generics 50% less expensive

With the expiration of the original patents, many less expensive generics will become available in Canada in the coming months, contributing to a significant price reduction and pleasing plan payers. As of January 27, 2026, Health Canada had received eight applications for marketing authorization for these generics. They are expected to sell for half the price of the originals.

Current GLP-1s can lead to a loss of up to 20% of body mass, but several studies have confirmed weight regain, often very rapid, when they are discontinued.

Complaints and lawsuits

This medication is effective as long as it is taken. The World Health Organization (WHO) has added GLP-1 analogues to its list of essential medicines for the management of type 2 diabetes in high-risk groups.

But it has its downsides: it has generated thousands of complaints due to its adverse effects, led to several class-action lawsuits, and is the subject of dangerous counterfeits.

Some patients taking semaglutide experience few side effects, but others complain of serious adverse effects: stomach pain, nausea, gastrointestinal damage, stomach paralysis, intestinal obstruction, and vision loss.

Here are some other harmful effects reported by the American law firm King Law, which is leading a class-action lawsuit concerning these drugs:

  • Ozempic can cause skin laxity and a hollowed appearance of the face. This effect is called "Ozempic face."
  • As of February 2, 2026, King Law indicated that gastroparesis (stomach paralysis) was the most frequently reported disorder (75%) in complaints against its manufacturer, Novo Nordisk.
  • In December 2025, the Australian government issued a warning about Ozempic, reporting suicidal behavior and self-harm.
  • In November 2025, a study revealed that Ozempic interferes with medical imaging examinations.
  • In October 2025, a new analysis established a link between Ozempic and acute kidney injury.
  • In June 2025, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) concluded that taking Ozempic doubled the risk of developing non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION).

Specialist physicians partly attribute this surge in complaints and legal action to the high number of people taking semaglutide, as reported by Alexandre Caron. Side effects tend to occur primarily at the beginning of treatment. Hence the importance of starting with a low dose and increasing it gradually.

Complaints in Canada

Complaints are also piling up in Canada: as of January 23, 2026, Health Canada had received 3,181 reports of adverse events from within the country and 44,670 from abroad. These include gastrointestinal problems, injuries and poisonings, and negative psychiatric and ocular effects.

Recently, Health Canada initiated a safety review to assess the risk of non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy associated with semaglutide use.

Several major lawsuits have been filed in recent years. Plaintiffs allege that manufacturers failed to adequately warn them in advance about the adverse effects of their products.

The first proposed class action against Novo Nordisk was filed in Quebec in 2023 on behalf of individuals who developed gallbladder disease or experienced intestinal blockage, intestinal paralysis and/or stomach paralysis. The certification process is still underway.

However, a class action launched in British Columbia in 2024 on behalf of all Canadians who suffered serious health issues after taking the drug has been certified.

In Quebec, another proposed class action was filed in mid-January 2026 targeting Eli Lilly, the manufacturer of Zepbound and Mounjaro, two other GLP-1 medications.

Counterfeits and imitations

The popularity of these drugs has led criminal organizations to sell counterfeit versions in the form of fake injector pens that may pose serious health risks. These products are often sold on websites that appear to be legitimate pharmacies.

In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning in January 2026 after counterfeit “Ozempic” pens were found within the legitimate supply chain. The EMA had already done the same.

The issue has become significant enough that Health Canada issued its own warning on January 21, 2026. Counterfeit versions may contain harmful substances such as solvents, heavy metals, particles (fibres, glass, plastic), or microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, endotoxins).