Which Country Is Currently Reporting the Lowest Global Prices for Semaglutide, and Why?
Author(s)
Janet D. Beal, MSc1, Leyla Hasanzadeh, BSc2.
1Managing Research Analyst, Europe/CIS, Health Economics and Market Access, GlobalData, London, United Kingdom, 2Research Analyst, Health Economics and Market Access, GlobalData, London, United Kingdom.
1Managing Research Analyst, Europe/CIS, Health Economics and Market Access, GlobalData, London, United Kingdom, 2Research Analyst, Health Economics and Market Access, GlobalData, London, United Kingdom.
OBJECTIVES: To compare ex-manufacturer prices around the world for the high-profile weight loss and antidiabetic drug semaglutide (Ozempic/Wegovy), and account for an interesting cluster of lowest values.
METHODS: Ex-manufacturer prices for semaglutide (4mg strength, 1 unit) in 81 markets were retrieved from GlobalData’s proprietary POLI database and sorted from highest to lowest. Results were analyzed by country and by manufacturer. GlobalData headline analyses for 2023-2025 were consulted to seek explanation for lowest-price outliers.
RESULTS: A total of 128 ex-manufacturer prices for semaglutide 4mg, 1 unit, from 55 countries, were retrieved, valid as of June 2025. Two Ozempic presentations in the US had the highest prices ($997.58) - almost 20 times the value of the lowest ($47.75). The five countries with the highest POLI prices for this semaglutide presentation were (in descending order) the US, Argentina, Austria, Latvia, and Germany. The lowest prices were recorded (in descending order) in Serbia, North Macedonia, Slovakia, Bulgaria, and Russia. The 12 lowest-priced semaglutide presentations, all in Russia, were of particular interest. The highest-priced of these was Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic ($64.92) - but the remainder were early generic versions from Russian manufacturers, at prices at least 25% lower than that of the patent-protected originator drug. These were Promomed’s Quincenta ($49.37, four versions), Geropharm’s Semavic ($49.33), PSK Pharma’s Insudive ($49.30), Promomed’s Velgiya ($47.76, two versions), Pharmasyntez’s Semuglin ($47.76, two versions), and Geropharm’s Semavic Next ($47.75).
CONCLUSIONS: The lowest-priced Russian versions of semaglutide in this analysis had one thing in common - they are some of the growing number of generic versions of high-profile innovative drugs that have recently been granted emergency launch permits under Russia’s controversial compulsory licensing legislation, even though the semaglutide patent is not due to expire until at least 2035. Notably, Geropharm’s Semavic/Semavic Next became the top-selling drug by value in Russian pharmacies in March 2025.
METHODS: Ex-manufacturer prices for semaglutide (4mg strength, 1 unit) in 81 markets were retrieved from GlobalData’s proprietary POLI database and sorted from highest to lowest. Results were analyzed by country and by manufacturer. GlobalData headline analyses for 2023-2025 were consulted to seek explanation for lowest-price outliers.
RESULTS: A total of 128 ex-manufacturer prices for semaglutide 4mg, 1 unit, from 55 countries, were retrieved, valid as of June 2025. Two Ozempic presentations in the US had the highest prices ($997.58) - almost 20 times the value of the lowest ($47.75). The five countries with the highest POLI prices for this semaglutide presentation were (in descending order) the US, Argentina, Austria, Latvia, and Germany. The lowest prices were recorded (in descending order) in Serbia, North Macedonia, Slovakia, Bulgaria, and Russia. The 12 lowest-priced semaglutide presentations, all in Russia, were of particular interest. The highest-priced of these was Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic ($64.92) - but the remainder were early generic versions from Russian manufacturers, at prices at least 25% lower than that of the patent-protected originator drug. These were Promomed’s Quincenta ($49.37, four versions), Geropharm’s Semavic ($49.33), PSK Pharma’s Insudive ($49.30), Promomed’s Velgiya ($47.76, two versions), Pharmasyntez’s Semuglin ($47.76, two versions), and Geropharm’s Semavic Next ($47.75).
CONCLUSIONS: The lowest-priced Russian versions of semaglutide in this analysis had one thing in common - they are some of the growing number of generic versions of high-profile innovative drugs that have recently been granted emergency launch permits under Russia’s controversial compulsory licensing legislation, even though the semaglutide patent is not due to expire until at least 2035. Notably, Geropharm’s Semavic/Semavic Next became the top-selling drug by value in Russian pharmacies in March 2025.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-11, ISPOR Europe 2025, Glasgow, Scotland
Value in Health, Volume 28, Issue S2
Code
HPR239
Topic
Health Policy & Regulatory
Topic Subcategory
Pricing Policy & Schemes
Disease
Diabetes/Endocrine/Metabolic Disorders (including obesity)