Bernie Sanders to Novo: Stop cheating Americans
During a Senate hearing in Washington D.C., Novo Nordisk CEO Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen was confronted with price disparities for drugs Ozempic and Wegovy, which are more expensive in the USA compared to other countries. Senator Bernie Sanders criticized the company for the moral implications of the economic and corporate greed involved. While the list price for a month’s supply of Ozempic is $969 in the US, it’s about $123 in Denmark. However, Jørgensen pointed out the role of intermediaries (PBMs), who negotiate discounts that sometimes don’t reach consumers. Sanders highlighted the high costs of health insurance that cover these medicines. Towards the end, Novo expressed hope for changes benefiting patients and committed to working with policymakers on structural changes needed in the U.S. healthcare system.