Weight-loss drugs, which have taken the world by storm, could soon become cheaper and more widely accessible, with the patent for semaglutide — sold under the brand names Wegovy and Ozempic — set to expire in several major markets in early 2026.
Semaglutide is part of a group of drugs that have become central in the fight against obesity and metabolic diseases, with one study estimating that their universal availability could reduce global obesity prevalence by 20% and save 28 million lives over a period of five years. But high prices and intellectual property barriers have left the treatment out of reach to most, especially in low- and middle-income countries.
That is likely to change next year, with the patent expiry on semaglutide sparking a race to manufacture copycat — and significantly more affordable — versions of the drug in countries such as India and China.