Novo Nordisk’s CEO, Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen, defended the high cost of Ozempic and Wegovy in America by stating that the drugs are ultimately saving taxpayers money on obesity-related costs, which amount to over $400 billion a year in the U.S. Jørgensen denied accusations of operating as a drug cartel and is scheduled to testify about drug pricing at a Senate committee hearing in September. Senator Bernie Sanders criticized Novo Nordisk for charging significantly more for the drugs in the U.S. compared to other countries.
Despite the potential benefits of these drugs in reducing obesity-related health issues, health policy professor Stacie Dusetzina doubts that the savings from decreased health care spending justify the high cost of the drugs. Jørgensen blamed insurance companies and pharmacy benefit managers for high out-of-pocket costs for patients and stated that the complexities of the U.S. healthcare system contribute to the issue.
In response to criticism, Jørgensen plans to discuss the value of the medications for patients at the upcoming hearing and emphasized the importance of patient support programs for those who struggle to afford their medications. Cynthia Cox from KFF noted that while the drugs show promise in preventing and reducing obesity-related diseases, the long-term cost-effectiveness and benefits are still unclear due to the limited data on their widespread use for weight loss.
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