Senate health committee chair Bernie Sanders has called a vote to subpoena the chief of Novo Nordisk’s U.S. division over the company’s pricing of Ozempic and Wegovy.
I don’t believe it’s actually $90 anywhere, that must be because of some sort of subsidy.
In Denmark where Novo resides, the price is $200+ for the lowest dose. And Denmark allows parallel import if it can be bought cheaper elsewhere.
USA has a very different market, with extreme penalties in case something goes wrong, that mandates higher self insurance, and sales channels that are almost built for abuse by almost everybody. I seriously doubt Novo makes 6 times more on Wegovy than they do elsewhere. The problem is in the American system.
That said, I agree with Bernie Sanders that there’s a problem that needs to be fixed.
EDIT:
$200 is for 4 doses enough for 4 weeks.
I bet the insane prices in USA, are mostly due to insurance companies and whole-sellers exploiting the lack of structure and regulation in the US system. Novo cannot take more that those are willing to pay, and if insurance chooses not to cover Wegovy, Novo sells nothing through that company. Insurance companies are in control more than anybody in USA.
If the prices are as legitimate as you suggest then surely that will be easily revealed by the subpoena’d accounting books and Novo Nordisk will be cleared of suspicion. Wouldn’t that be the system working as intended?
I don’t believe it’s actually $90 anywhere, that must be because of some sort of subsidy.
In Denmark where Novo resides, the price is $200+ for the lowest dose. And Denmark allows parallel import if it can be bought cheaper elsewhere.
USA has a very different market, with extreme penalties in case something goes wrong, that mandates higher self insurance, and sales channels that are almost built for abuse by almost everybody. I seriously doubt Novo makes 6 times more on Wegovy than they do elsewhere. The problem is in the American system.
That said, I agree with Bernie Sanders that there’s a problem that needs to be fixed.
EDIT: $200 is for 4 doses enough for 4 weeks.
I bet the insane prices in USA, are mostly due to insurance companies and whole-sellers exploiting the lack of structure and regulation in the US system. Novo cannot take more that those are willing to pay, and if insurance chooses not to cover Wegovy, Novo sells nothing through that company. Insurance companies are in control more than anybody in USA.
If the prices are as legitimate as you suggest then surely that will be easily revealed by the subpoena’d accounting books and Novo Nordisk will be cleared of suspicion. Wouldn’t that be the system working as intended?
Oh yes, I’m not against Bernie doing this, but I wouldn’t call it the system working as intended, that it’s necessary.