CEO of Novo Nordisk, Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen, defended the high cost of the company’s drugs Ozempic and Wegovy in America, stating that they help save taxpayers money on obesity-related costs. The U.S. has a significant cost burden of over $400 billion due to obesity each year. Jørgensen rejected claims of operating as a drug cartel and is set to testify before a Senate committee about the pricing of Novo Nordisk’s popular drugs in September. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders criticized the company for charging significantly more in the U.S. than in other countries. A report by KFF found that people with obesity have significantly higher health costs compared to those without, with out-of-pocket costs also being higher. However, health policy experts like Stacie Dusetzina argue that the current prices of Ozempic and Wegovy may not lead to overall health care spending savings. Jørgensen attributes high out-of-pocket costs to insurance companies and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), who negotiate drug prices. The FTC published a report on how PBMs are driving up costs for patients. Jørgensen acknowledged that some patients struggle to afford the medications and mentioned the company’s patient support programs. While the drugs can prevent and reduce obesity-related diseases, the long-term cost-benefit analysis of their use for weight loss remains uncertain due to limited data. The CEO emphasized the need for a discussion on the value of these medicines for patients.
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Assisting in lowering the expenses of obesity
