Canadian scientist Daniel Drucker is ​​​sometimes dubbed the “father of Ozempic.” While at Harvard in the 1980s, Drucker spearheaded GLP-1 research that led to semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy. The investigation into a gut hormone transformed into a global medical and cultural phenomenon. Today, roughly one in 12 Canadian adults reports taking a prescription GLP-1 drug, while demand for the medication is soaring. ​​Some GLP-1 drugs have also been shown to reduce the risk of serious cardiovascular and kidney complications, ​​with potential to treat a host of other conditions, including liver diseases and substance abuse disorders. The economic impact has also been extraordinary: ​​Ozempic is Canada’s best-selling medication, with sales of all semaglutide injection medicines in Canada totalling $3.5 billion in 2025. Drucker hasn’t made a loonie from the drug, even though he owns dozens of other patents. ​​His research helped lay the scientific foundation for Ozempic, but it was Danish company Novo Nordisk developed semaglutide and brought it to market. #glp1 #ozempic #medicine