Is this a ‘magic pill’ for weight loss?: expert on GLP-1 medications

Novo Nordisk's Canadian patent for weight loss drug Ozempic is set to expire in January 2026. Dr. Justin Ezekowitz discusses generic competitors that may come.

Novo Nordisk’s Canadian patent for weight loss drug Ozempic is set to expire in January 2026, opening the market to generic competitors. Dr. Justin Ezekowitz, a professor at the University of Alberta, joined CTV Morning Live’s Cory Edel with more on what generic competitors could bring.

This transcript has been edited for length and clarity.

Cory Edel: Why is there a surge in demand for medications and what are they used for?

Dr. Justin Ezekowitz: What we’ve seen is a surge in the interest in this area with semaglutide or Ozempic, the brand name, and a lot of it’s because we do have a lot of patients who are overweight or obese, and that’s a growing global phenomenon, not just Canada. In Canada, about a third are overweight or obese, so we’re seeing a lot of people who are interested in perhaps losing some weight and getting to a healthier weight that’s relative for them.

Cory: Is this a magic pill for weight loss and health outcomes?

Dr. Ezekowitz: This group of drugs have been around for some time, and they’ve improved in their quality of their safety, their efficacy and ability to do the things that they want to do. Are they a magic pill? Well, nothing is perfect. It’s always best when these medications, such as Ozempic or semaglutide, are used in combination with everything else. Like eating well, getting regular exercise, and that’s the key, it’s not one thing. I think we have to keep that in mind. It can’t just be a magic pill. It is part of a whole suite of health-related things we can do.

Cory: So creating more of a lifestyle around weight loss and not just using the Ozempic or the drugs for that?

Dr. Ezekowitz: Absolutely. Even for people who do start on Ozempic or semaglutide. They do have to change their diet and eat healthier overall and that does actually encourage people to eat a healthier diet. We also encourage them to get around to exercising, doing all the things we’ve been recommending forever because those things also do work well for other causes and preventing other diseases.

Cory: How will these generics affect the affordability and availability of the drugs?

Dr. Ezekowitz: It’s broken into two big camps. There are patients with diabetes for whom there’s been an availability for a long time, which is quite important. For patients who are using it for weight loss and weight management, that’s where it’s probably going to have the biggest impact. Whether or not these medications are substantially less expensive and affordable and all those other factors in Canada, it will need to wait until they’ve been released and priced. I think many patients, if they’re paying out of pocket, will want to look at that.

Cory: What should people consider when debating going on one of these drugs for weight loss, or even seeing it in the social media realms?

Dr. Ezekowitz: There are a couple of things. Getting very high quality, valid information from reputable internet sites is going to be the first part. Try to avoid the lower-quality advertisement-based sites, that’s one piece of information. The other part is to think of this as a long-term strategy. It’s not just one and done. You have to think about this over the next 12 to 24 months, so one to two years. How do I want to change my lifestyle to accommodate this medication so that I can achieve whatever goals and weight management goals you have? It’s not a short-term solution for people, and that’s part of what we’re talking to patients about to get them to realize that’s a very fundamental thing to think about.

Cory: What are some of the side effects that people might not be aware of?

Dr. Ezekowitz: The biggest side effects are the gastrointestinal (GI) side effects, the stomach side effects. Compared to placebo, about one in 10 people have a GI side effect, and it’s amplified if they don’t follow the ‘rules’ of using this medication. I think that’s where we also run into trouble. We don’t counsel people well enough in advance as to how to use this medication, how to take smaller meals, how to drink more fluid and all those other things. About one in 10 will have a stomach-related side effect that is going to be meaningful and maybe take them off the medication.

Cory: Who should we be going to for the best advice on it?

Dr. Ezekowitz: I’d say there are probably a couple of sources. Start with your physicians and medical team. The second is your pharmacy. Pharmacists have a lot of experience giving these medications. Those are two really good, high-quality sources. The third is to go to high-quality, valid medical or medical-facing websites that are focused on this. Obesity Canada and Health Canada both have sites based on this information. I’d focus on getting those three things. I find that when we send patients with a new prescription with semaglutide or Ozempic, we have our pharmacists do a fair amount of counselling and that does help a fair bit. Dieticians or nutritionists can also be substantially helpful.