Canada approves generic version of Wegovy for weight loss

OTTAWA — Health Canada has approved a generic version of Wegovy, a semaglutide drug that’s prescribed to help people lose weight.

The weekly injection is known as Svemia from the Canadian company Apotex and is pharmaceutically equivalent to weight-loss medication Wegovy from Denmark’s Novo Nordisk.

Health Canada says Svemia can be prescribed to people 12 years of age and over, as a supplement to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity for weight management.

It’s the third generic semaglutide medication approved by the department, though the first two were authorized for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes in adults.