Canadian Province Restricts Ozempic Sales to United States Citizens

On March 28, 2023, British Columbia (BC), a Canadian Province, announced it would restrict Ozempic sales to United States citizens. The release from government officials notes that US citizens crossing borders to get Ozempic may leave the province susceptible to shortages.

Ozempic, generically known as semaglutide, has increased in popularity for its weight loss effects after social media influencers and mainstream celebrities reported quick weight loss on the medication. The drug, manufactured by Novo Nordisk, is a type 2 diabetes drug known to reduce hemoglobin A1c.

The FDA first approved the medication in late 2017, making it available as a once-weekly 0.5 mg or 1 mg dose. Since its initial approval, Ozempic has been approved for cardiovascular risk reduction and in higher doses. To date, the FDA has not approved the medication for weight loss.

The medication is a glucagon-like peptide receptor agonist, an adjunct therapy to improve glycemic control. While improved management is facilitated by medication, lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise are necessary.

Although Ozempic users have publicly reported a good experience, the medication’s prices still pose a significant barrier to getting the drug. According to GoodRx, the monthly retail cost of Ozempic in the US ranges from $810 to over $1,000 for a minimum annual fee of $9,720, depending on the dosage and location.

Comparatively, an article in CanPharma prices Ozempic in Canada under $400. While both prices are retail costs and the out-of-pocket payment for the drug can vary depending on insurance costs, the difference is jarring, leading many Americans to look outside the US for less expensive medications.

BC laws allow pharmacies to fill prescriptions written by a US clinician if an accredited Canadian practitioner co-signs them. Data from the BC press release states that 15% of all Ozempic pens sold in BC in January and February 2023 were to US patients, accounting for 15,798 prescriptions.

The BC government investigated, finding that 88% of the nearly 1,600 prescriptions for American citizens were filled at two pharmacies. The data collected by PharmaNet, a central data system for pharmacies in BC, suggests that nearly 95% of the prescriptions were written by clinicians who claimed to be from Nova Scotia.

The press release suggests suspicion about the validity of the prescribers. Government officials are planning to conduct a closer investigation into these prescribers.

Even though BC has not had an Ozempic shortage, the BC government is taking preemptive action to prevent a deficiency.

“The purpose of procuring the drug Ozempic for British Columbia is not to turn around and export it to Americans. It is to make sure patients in British Columbia and Canada requiring the drug to treat their type 2 diabetes can continue to access it,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, in the release. “For this reason, we are taking action to ensure type 2 diabetes patients maintain access to Ozempic.”

While Dix did not clarify how they plan to restrict access to Ozempic, it will undoubtedly affect American citizens on the drug. Much like the insulin crisis, this crisis indicates a more significant US domestic drug pricing problem.