LONDON, Nov 12 (Reuters) -

Generic drug giant Sandoz expects unbranded versions

of Novo Nordisk's popular diabetes drug Ozempic to

launch in Canada by the second quarter next year after a key

patent expires, its CEO said on Wednesday.

"It's unlikely people will launch in January next year, to

be brutally honest. I think it'll probably be quarter one,

quarter two," said Richard Saynor in an interview.

Sandoz hopes to be one of the first entrants in the Canadian

market where Novo's patent for semaglutide for diabetes will

expire in January.