Canada
Sevmia, explained
Applies to: Canada
By Joshua Nichvolodoff · Fact-checked against sources November 2, 2026 · Next review due January 31, 2027
Clinical review: not yet reviewed by a clinician. How review works · Editorial policy
Sevmia is Apotex's generic version of Wegovy. Health Canada authorized it on June 29, 2026 for chronic weight management — the third generic semaglutide authorized in Canada and the first for weight management[1].
Generic semaglutide authorized in Canada
| Item | Authorized | Brand it copies | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dr. Reddy's semaglutide | April 28, 2026 | Ozempic | Type 2 diabetes |
| Apo-Semaglutide (Apotex) | May 1, 2026 | Ozempic | Type 2 diabetes |
| Sevmia (Apotex) | June 29, 2026 | Wegovy | Weight management, 12 and over |
Who it's authorized for
Health Canada describes Sevmia as a once-weekly treatment for chronic weight management in patients 12 years and over[1]. Whether it fits you is a decision for your prescriber; this describes the authorization, not a recommendation.
The pen
Apotex describes a multi-use prefilled pen containing 4 mg of semaglutide, developed with Orbicular Pharmaceutical Technologies[6].
Coverage — read the fine print
Public drug plans list semaglutide for type 2 diabetes, not for weight management. BC's summer 2026 summary for clinicians shows PharmaCare coverage only for semaglutide for type 2 diabetes[2], and Ontario's Limited Use criteria are for adults with type 2 diabetes[3]. For weight management, people generally pay out of pocket or look to private insurance, which varies plan by plan.
More generics are under review
Health Canada's list of generic submissions under review, current as of September 30, 2026, included 11 semaglutide submissions[7].
The evidence behind it
Generics are authorized on the basis that they are pharmaceutically equivalent to the brand, not on new outcome trials[1]. The weight-management evidence for semaglutide 2.4 mg comes from the brand's trials, such as STEP 1[8].
Study: STEP 1[8]
Does weekly semaglutide 2.4 mg, with lifestyle support, lead to more weight loss than placebo in adults with obesity or overweight and no diabetes?
- Who was in it
- 1,961 adults with a BMI of 30 or more, or 27 or more with a weight-related condition, without diabetes
- What they got
- Semaglutide 2.4 mg injection once a week, plus lifestyle intervention
- Compared with
- Placebo, plus the same lifestyle intervention
- How long
- 68 weeks
- What happened
- Average body-weight change: −14.9% on semaglutide vs −2.4% on placebo. 4.5% vs 0.8% stopped treatment because of stomach-related side effects.
- Limits
- People with diabetes were excluded
- 68 weeks: no long-term or heart outcomes
- Did not test what happens after stopping
- Funded by
- Novo Nordisk
Summary by Joshua Nichvolodoff, from the published paper — not written by the study's authors. Clinical review: not yet reviewed by a clinician.
Logging it in Light Years
Choose "Semaglutide (injection)" — Sevmia is listed alongside the other brands. Your logged trend, doses, and history carry across if your pharmacy changes the product.
General information, not medical advice. Light Years earns nothing from any product named here.
Log each dose and see when the next one is due, on your device. Open my tracker or browse the other guides.
Sources
- Canada approves first generic semaglutide for weight loss. Health Canada, June 29, 2026. https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/news/2026/06/canada-approves-first-generic-semaglutide-for-weight-loss.html. Accessed November 2, 2026. Back to the text
- Medications for chronic weight management in adults: update on semaglutide and tirzepatide (Summer 2026). BC Provincial Academic Detailing Service, BC Ministry of Health, July 22, 2026. https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/health/practitioner-pro/provincial-academic-detailing-service/bc_pad_2026_semaglutide_tirzepatide_chronic_weight_management_summer_2026_update.pdf. Accessed November 2, 2026. Back to the text
- Ontario Drug Benefit Formulary — Limited Use criteria, semaglutide. Ontario Ministry of Health. https://www.formulary.health.gov.on.ca/formulary/limitedUseNotes.xhtml?pcg9Id=682006002. Accessed November 2, 2026. Back to the text
- Canada becomes the first G7 country to approve a generic version of semaglutide. Health Canada, April 28, 2026. https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/news/2026/04/canada-becomes-the-first-g7-country-to-approve-a-generic-version-of-semaglutide.html. Accessed November 2, 2026. Back to the text
- Canada approves second generic semaglutide, the first G7 country to do so. Health Canada, May 1, 2026. https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/news/2026/05/canada-approves-second-generic-semaglutide-the-first-g7-country-to-do-so.html. Accessed November 2, 2026. Back to the text
- Apotex first to receive Health Canada approval for SEVMIA, a generic semaglutide for chronic weight management. Apotex, June 30, 2026. https://investors.apotex.com/2026-06-30-Apotex-first-to-receive-Health-Canada-approval-for-SEVMIA-TM-,-a-generic-semaglutide-for-chronic-weight-management. Accessed November 2, 2026. Back to the text
- Generic submissions under review (list current as of September 30, 2026). Health Canada, October 23, 2026. https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drug-health-product-review-approval/generic-submissions-under-review.html. Accessed November 2, 2026. Back to the text
- Once-weekly semaglutide in adults with overweight or obesity (STEP 1). New England Journal of Medicine, March 18, 2021. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33567185/ · DOI 10.1056/NEJMoa2032183 · PMID 33567185. Accessed November 2, 2026. Back to the text
Figures marked “as reported” are historical: they show what the source said on that date, not today's price or rule.
Changes to this page
- — Authorization and pen described in Health Canada's and Apotex's words; removed an unsourced phrase; added Key facts.
- — First published.
Substantive corrections are also logged at corrections.