Celon Pharma's generic semaglutide matches Ozempic in early trial, sending shares surging

Celon Pharma (CLNP) said its experimental semaglutide product Reduzek demonstrated comparable absorption to Novo Nordisk's (NVO) Ozempic and Wegovy in an early-stage bioequivalence study, sending shares in the Polish drugmaker up 14.7 per cent — on course for their best single-day gain since July 2024.

The Canadian study, conducted on 91 healthy volunteers, showed that a 0.5 milligram dose of Reduzek matched the rate and extent of absorption of the branded semaglutide treatments. Under clinical guidelines, that finding will allow Celon to extrapolate the demonstrated bioequivalence to other doses of the drug candidate.

The company said the trial represented a significant step in its strategy to bring a semaglutide equivalent to global markets, where demand for GLP-1-based weight-loss and diabetes treatments has surged in recent years on the back of Novo Nordisk's blockbuster franchise.

Celon's broader portfolio includes the antipsychotic Ketrel, the anti-tumor drug Aromek, and the Alzheimer's treatment Donepex.