Senators grilled Novo Nordisk CEO Lars Jrgensen Tuesday at a hearing over the costs of Ozempic, Wegovy and similar weight loss drugs, requesting explanations for why the U.S. faces a higher list price than other countries.
Since first entering the market nearly six years ago, the drugs have risen in popularity for diabetic patients and others looking to combat obesity. But doctors and patients have faced challenges in access and affordability.
Sitting in front of a chart showing the lower prices for Wegovy and Ozempic in other countries, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., the chair of the Senate Health Committee, pressed Jrgensen on why it’s fair to charge more in the U.S.
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., speaks during a Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee business meeting on Capitol Hill, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in Washington.
AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib
“All we are saying, Mr. Jrgensen, is treat the American people the same way …