Novo Nordisk A/S NVO will take into account methods to assist sufferers get reasonably priced prescriptions for weight reduction medicine, CEO Lars Fruergaard Jorgensen instructed members of the U.S. Congress on Wednesday when requested if his firm would decrease U.S. costs for Ozempic and Wegovy.
Jorgensen sat earlier than the Well being, Schooling, Labor and Pensions Committee, led by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), to reply questions on why Ozempic prices $969 per thirty days within the U.S. versus solely $155 per thirty days in Canada, $122 in Denmark, $59 in Germany and $71 in France.
A month’s prescription for Wegovy within the U.S. prices $1,349, in comparison with $186 in Denmark, $140 in Germany and $92 within the U.Ok.
“You’re making enormous quantities of cash on this nation and also you’re charging us way more and also you haven’t given me a solution as to why,” Sanders mentioned to Jorgensen through the listening to.
Sanders then instructed Jorgensen that pharmacy profit managers (PBM) would maintain each Ozempic and Wegovy on their insurance coverage protection lists if his firm considerably lowered the costs of those medicine within the U.S.
“I’ve acquired commitments in writing from the main PBMs that if Novo Nordisk lowered its listing value, they’d not restrict entry to Ozempic and Wegovy and wouldn’t take these medicine off of their formularies,” Sanders mentioned.
Learn Additionally: Wegovy’s Large Demand: Novo Nordisk CEO Expresses Full Confidence In Catalent Amid Manufacturing Hurdles
“Given this reality, will you commit right now that Novo Nordisk will considerably scale back the listing value of those medicine in the US in order that the American persons are not paying increased costs, far increased costs for these medicine than the folks in Europe and Canada?”
Jorgensen mentioned his firm will look at methods to provide U.S. sufferers “entry to reasonably priced drugs” after listening to of this dedication for the primary time.
“Thanks, senator, for for that info. That’s new info for me,” he mentioned.
“Something that can assist sufferers get entry to reasonably priced drugs, we’ll be completely happy to look into.”
However he mentioned he was a bit involved by the dedication as a result of an insulin drugs made by Novo Nordisk was dropped from PBM’s formularies after the corporate dropped web pricing for the drug final 12 months.
“I’ve a little bit of concern how this might play out however something that may assist sufferers get entry to the medicines they want at reasonably priced value level might be completely happy to collaborate round that,” Jorgensen mentioned.
Sanders requested Jorgensen if he could be keen to sit down down with governors to work on an settlement to decrease the costs for Ozempic and Wegovy, primarily based on the dedication from PBMs.
“I’d be completely happy to, as I mentioned to something that helps sufferers,” he mentioned. “I don’t know below which circumstances such a promise comes. I haven’t seen any of that.”
NVO Value Motion: Novo Nordisk rose 2.25% to $126.48 into Tuesday’s mid-day buying and selling.
Learn Now:
Picture: Natalia Varlei On Shutterstock
Market Information and Knowledge delivered to you by Benzinga APIs
© 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga doesn’t present funding recommendation. All rights reserved.
