When will we see generic Wegovy and Mounjaro in the UK?

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Wegovy patents are expiring in some parts of the world. Does that mean we'll soon see cheaper generic versions in the UK?

Could cut-price, off-brand versions of semaglutide (Wegovy, Ozempic) become available in the UK in the near future?

Back in September, The Independent reported that 'new drugmakers could soon offer "£20-a-month" Ozempic-style weight loss jabs'.

The crux of the story was this: Wegovy manufacturer Novo Nordisk would see patents expire in some parts of the world in early 2026. As a result, other drug companies could move in to meet demand with cheaper generic medications that also contain the active ingredient semaglutide.

Now, it's April 2026 – and according to reports, those patents have already expired in India, China and Brazil.¹

So, where are the cheap generic versions of semaglutide? Well, in reality, they won't be available in the UK for a few years yet.

To understand why, we must delve a little deeper into the knotty world of generic medicines and drug patenting.

What are generic medicines?

Generic medicines are copies of existing, brand-name medicines. They contain the same active ingredient as the original drug but are sold under different names.

Let's use Wegovy as an example. Wegovy contains the active ingredient semaglutide. This is the ingredient that gives Wegovy its appetite-suppressing effects.

When generic versions become available, they'll also contain semaglutide. However, drugmakers won't be able to sell these generic versions using the name 'Wegovy'. They'll have to come up with an alternative name for their copy.

Crucially, generic medicines are approved to work in the same way and to treat the same conditions as the original drug. That means you'll get exactly the same effect by taking a generic medicine as the brand-name original.

Generic medicines create competition in the market, which can be good for patients because it often leads to lower prices. However, drugmakers can't sell generic medicines until the original manufacturer's patent expires.

Generic medicines vs brand-name medicines:

What's the same	What's different
Active ingredient	Brand name
Dose and strength	Packaging
Safety and effectiveness	Other ingredients that don't affect how the drug works

How drug patents work

Picture of a patent document on a table.

When a manufacturer develops a new drug, that manufacturer is granted a patent. This patent gives them the exclusive right to sell the drug for a set period.

Drug patents usually last for around 20 years. During this time, other companies cannot legally make or sell generic versions of the drug.

Take Novo Nordisk's patent for semaglutide in India. It was filed in 2007, granted in 2014 and expired last month (March 2026).² That means drug companies are now allowed to make and sell generic versions of semaglutide in India.

However, drugmakers must apply for patent protection in each country where they want to sell a brand-name drug. That's why patents expire at different times in different parts of the world.

So, while the semaglutide patent is expiring in several countries, we have a few years to wait until Novo Nordisk's patent expires in the UK.

When will the patent for Wegovy expire in the UK?

When drugmakers develop a new medication, they often begin by filing an international application with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). This is called a 'PCT application'.

The drug company can then apply for patent protection in individual countries using the date of their PCT application as the starting point. Novo Nordisk filed its PCT application for semaglutide in early 2006.³ That's why, 20 years later, patents are now expiring in certain countries.

Why not the UK? Well, in the UK and other parts of Europe, drugmakers can apply for patent extensions in the form of Supplementary Protection Certificates (SPCs). These can extend patent protection for up to five years.

The bottom line: with an SPC in place, it's unlikely that we'll see generic semaglutide for sale in the UK until 2031.³

When will Mounjaro's patent expire in the UK?

Eli Lilly and Company is the manufacturer behind Mounjaro. Its core patent for tirzepatide, the active ingredient in Mounjaro, runs out in Europe in 2033.⁴

As with Novo Nordisk and semaglutide, Eli Lilly has also applied for an SPC for tirzepatide.⁵ That means we'll likely have to wait until the mid-2030s to early 2040s to see generic tirzepatide for sale in the UK.

I've seen 'generic Mounjaro' or 'generic Wegovy' for sale: are they safe?

As we've seen, generic semaglutide can't be sold legally in the UK until around 2031. And for generic tirzepatide, the wait looks to be even longer.

So, if you see so-called 'generic Wegovy' or 'generic Mounjaro' for sale here in the UK, you should be very wary. It could mean one of several things:

The seller is offering an illegal and unregulated import from a country where the sale of generic semaglutide is allowed.
The seller is offering an illegal and unregulated knock-off drug, which may or may not contain semaglutide.
It's a complete scam – the seller will take your money and run.

Dabbling in unregulated medication can be dangerous. Legalities aside, these drugs aren't subject to the same safety and quality checks as approved, regulated medications.

Generic medicines should contain the same active ingredient and work in the same way – but how can you be sure that's what you're really getting?

And with illegal knock-off drugs, the risks are even more serious. These might be other drugs that the seller is trying to pass off as semaglutide – or it could contain a mix of substances, or nothing at all. You just don't know, so it's not worth taking the gamble.

For your safety and well-being, always buy prescription medicines from legitimate, regulated providers. That means making sure:

You receive a prescription for the drug after a medical consultation (online or in person)
The provider offers the real, brand-name medication in original packaging
The provider is registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council
You receive proper medical oversight to help keep you safe as you use the drug

Semapen is a UK provider of medical weight loss treatments founded and led by obesity experts. Do you want to lose weight with specialist support, every step of the way? Learn more about our online Mounjaro and Wegovy treatments, delivered remotely through our unique smartphone app.

Sources

1. Pratap, A. (2025) Looming GLP-1 drug patent expirations draw generics firms. C&EN. Retrieved from https://cen.acs.org/pharmaceuticals/Looming-GLP-1-drug-patent/103/web/2025/12

2. Ghosh, S. (2025) Why Delhi HC rejected semaglutide patent suit. The Indian Express. Retrieved from https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-law/why-delhi-hc-rejected-semaglutide-patent-suit-10405013/

3. Rogers, C. (2026) Changes in the Ozempic patent landscape. Health Tech World. Retrieved from https://www.htworld.co.uk/insight/features/changes-in-the-ozempic-patent-landscape-rg25/

4. United States Securities and Exchange Commission (2025) Annual report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024. Retrieved from https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/59478/000005947825000067/lly-20241231.htm

5. Intellectual Property Office of Ireland (n.d.) Supplementary Protection Certificate Details. Retrieved from https://eregister.ipoi.gov.ie/register/SPRegister.aspx?idappli=2023%2F002

This article was reviewed and approved by Lujain Alhassan, Bariatric Nutritionist, on 3 April 2026.

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