"What my patients are scared of is dialysis — dialysis or a transplant," said Cherney, who is also a senior scientist at the Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, in an interview.

US patients can now get a month’s supply of Ozempic, the blockbuster diabetes drug, for $499, for those who pay for medications on their own and don’t go through insurance.

Earlier this month, it said it expects continued competition from copycat versions of its blockbuster obesity drug Wegovy this year and rising pressure from main U.S. rival, Eli Lilly. Novo said the new offer was part of its ongoing efforts to explore new collaborations and approaches towards improving access to authentic semaglutide medicines.