Patent expiry opens door to cheaper Ozempic in Kenya

Patients in Kenya, currently paying up to Sh150,000 a month for the diabetes drug Ozempic, could soon access the treatment at a fraction of the cost following the expiry of its patent on March 20, 2026. Pharmaceutical manufacturers in India, China, and Brazil are planning to launch generic versions of the drug, with prices potentially dropping to about Sh1,813 per week. Danish manufacturer Novo Nordisk has already cut the price of its branded Ozempic in India by 48%.