Sanders launches investigation into ‘unacceptable’ diabetes and prices of weight loss drugs

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, on Wednesday launched an investigation into the “outrageously high prices” of Novo Nordisk’s respective diabetes and weight-loss drugs. Ozempic and Wegovy.

On Wednesday, Sanders wrote a letter to Novo Nordisk CEO Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen, informing him of the investigation and expressing his concerns about the various price differences between the drugs and pointing out concerns about the price of the drugs.

“Novo Nordisk scientists deserve much credit for developing these drugs that have the potential to be a game changer for millions of Americans struggling with type 2 diabetes and obesity,” Sanders said.

“As important as these drugs are,” Sanders continued, “they will do no good to the millions of patients who cannot afford them.”

Ozempic and Wegovy have the same active ingredient – ​​semaglutide – but they have different doses and strengths. Ozempic is FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes, while Wegovy is approved for weight loss.

In his letter, Sanders questioned why the two drugs would be priced differently than in other countries.

Ozempic costs $969 a month for type 2 diabetes in the United States, but it costs $155 in Canada and $59 in Germany, Sanders said. Wegovy costs $1,349 per month for weight loss in the US, compared to $140 in Germany and $92 in the UK.

Sanders cited a recent report from Yale University saying the drugs could be produced profitably for less than $5 a month.

“The result of these astronomically high prices is that Ozempic and Wegovy are out of reach for the millions of Americans who need them,” Sanders said. “Unfortunately, Novo Nordisk’s pricing has turned medicines that could improve people’s lives into luxury goods, while Novo Nordisk made over $12 billion in profits last year – a 76 percent increase from 2021. That is unacceptable.”

Sanders warned that the high prices could bankrupt important programs like Medicare and Medicaid, “if prices for these products are not substantially reduced,” adding: “The U.S. Congress and the federal government cannot allow this happens.”

In a statement, a spokesperson for Novo Nordisk said the company is “proud of the work our scientists have done to advance innovation and improve the lives of people with chronic diseases,” and said it was “humbling” to see that the medicines help people.

“We agree with the Chairman that access to these important treatments is essential for patients in Medicare, Medicaid and the commercial markets.

“It is easy to oversimplify the science involved in understanding disease and developing and producing new treatments, as well as the complexity of the U.S. and global health care systems. However, the public debate does not always take this extremely complex reality into account. Novo Nordisk remains committed to working with policymakers to advance solutions that support access and affordability for all patients, and we reiterated this commitment in our conversation with Chairman Sanders,” the statement said.

Sanders asked the CEO if he would “substantially reduce both the list price and the net price of both Ozempic and Wegovy.” Sanders also asked for information before May 8 about internal decision-making, how much profit the company makes and how those prices are determined.