19 February 2025

Russians Turn to Local Ozempic Alternatives After Novo Nordisk’s Exit

Following Novo Nordisk’s withdrawal from Russia, local pharmaceutical companies have stepped in to fill the gap with their own versions of Ozempic, a diabetes medication also used for weight loss.

Five Russian brands have taken over the market after the drug largely vanished from pharmacy shelves due to the exit of Western companies in response to Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. In response, the Kremlin authorized “compulsory licenses,” allowing domestic manufacturers to produce the drug without adhering to patent restrictions, citing the need to maintain supply for hundreds of thousands of type 2 diabetes patients.

Geropharm, a leading player in this new market, began mass-producing its version, Semavic, within nine months, sourcing active ingredients from China's Zhejiang Peptites Biotech. Along with competitors Promomed and PSK Pharma, these companies have seen rapid sales growth.

Semavic sold over a million packs in its first full year, making it one of Russia’s top three bestselling drugs by late 2023, surpassing common cold medications like Nurofen, according to Russian analytics firm DSM Group. A month’s supply of Semavic costs approximately $44 in Russia, while remaining stock of original Ozempic is priced at about $55 due to government-imposed price caps. In contrast, the drug can cost over $1,000 in the U.S. without insurance.