CNBC Television·2025-07-09 15:50Market Opportunity - A $450 licensing fee oversight by Novo Nordisk opened a billion-dollar weight loss market opportunity in Canada [1] - Hims and Hers plans to expand to Canada in 2026, offering a generic semaglutide drug [3] - The semaglutide market in Canada generated $1.18 billion in revenue in 2024 and is estimated to reach $4 billion in the next decade [3] Patent and Regulatory Landscape - Novo Nordisk will lose its exclusive patent on semaglutide in Canada next January due to a missed licensing fee payment [1] - The patent could have lasted until 2032 if Novo Nordisk had maintained the annual fee payments [2] - The last fee payment was made in 2018, and Novo Nordisk received a notification in 2019 with a one-year deadline to pay [2] - Hims and Hers is working with an approved partner to comply with local laws and regulations in Canada [4] Company Statements - Novo Nordisk refutes the characterization of the patent lapse as a mistake, stating exclusivity ends as part of a drug's normal life cycle [4] - Hims and Hers expects to launch a semaglutide drug in Canada in 2026, though confirmation is pending [4]