Senator Bernie Sanders expressed confidence that Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO) can be persuaded to reduce the U.S. prices of its popular weight-loss drugs, Ozempic and Wegovy, by publicly highlighting the disparity between domestic and international pricing.
Sanders, who chairs the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), plans to question Novo Nordisk CEO Lars Jorgensen during a September hearing focused on these drugs' U.S. prices.
Related: Only 25% Patients Stick With Novo Nordisk's Wegovy Or Ozempic After 2 Years, A Study Shows; Company Calls Data Insufficient.
The Vermont senator's strategy proved effective last year when he pressured Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly And Co (NYSE:LLY), and Sanofi SA (NASDAQ:SNY) to lower insulin prices.
"I think we got a real shot, and I was pleased to see President Biden supporting that effort," Sanders told Reuters in a phone interview.
A Novo Nordisk spokesperson told Reuters that the net prices of both drugs have dropped by 40% since their launch, attributing the lack of consumer savings to pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs).
Sanders criticized this reduction as insufficient. PBMs, acting as intermediaries between drug companies and consumers, are often blamed for high drug prices. Despite this, more than 80% of insured Americans pay $25 or less per month for these drugs.
However, Sanders argued that high insurance costs, driven by the prices paid by insurers, ultimately affect all consumers.
Sanders aims to reduce the U.S. price of Ozempic to approximately $155, which is comparable to its cost in Canada.
A month's supply of Ozempic lists for $935.77 in the U.S., while Wegovy costs $1,349.02 monthly.
Sanders acknowledged his current focus on Novo Nordisk due to its drugs' projected profitability but stated he would soon address Eli Lilly's prices for its rival drugs, Mounjaro and Zepbound. He described these prices as "outrageous."
Sanders also intends to scrutinize PBMs, which dictate drug coverage and pricing. However, he emphasized that drugmakers cannot solely blame PBMs for high costs, asserting, "To say that PBMs play a negative role is true, but notwithstanding that ... (the drug companies) are still ripping off the American people."
Sanders criticized Novo Nordisk for not engaging constructively with the Senate committee, noting the company only agreed to have its CEO testify after a subpoena threat.
Price Action: NVO shares are down 2.57% at $139.08 at the last check on Thursday.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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参议员伯尼·桑德斯表示，通过公开突显国内和国际价格差异，诺和诺德公司（NYSE:NVO）可以被说服降低其主流币减肥药——欧秦匹克和维戈维在美国的价格。
桑德斯是参议院卫生、教育、劳工和养老金委员会（HELP）的主席，计划在9月的一次关注这些药物在美国价格的听证会上质询诺和诺德公司CEO拉尔斯·约尔根森。
相关:研究显示，只有25%的患者在服用了诺和诺德公司的维戈维或欧秦匹克两年后继续使用；公司称数据不足。
这位佛蒙特州参议员的策略去年曾证明有效，当时他施压诺和诺德公司、礼来和赛诺菲安万特降低胰岛素价格。
桑德斯在接受路透电话采访时表示:“我认为我们有真正的机会，我很高兴看到拜登总统支持这一努力。”
诺和诺德公司的一位发言人告诉路透社，这两种药的净价格自发布以来已经下降了40%，将消费者的节省归咎于药房福利经理（PBMs）。
桑德斯批评了这种降价的效果不够。PBMs作为药企和消费者之间的中间人，经常被指责高价药品的罪魁祸首。尽管如此，超过80%的美国参保人员每月仅需支付这些药物不到25美元的费用。
然而，桑德斯认为由保险公司支付的高昂价格最终会影响到所有消费者。
桑德斯的目标是将欧秦匹克的美国价格降至约155美元左右，这与其在加拿大的成本相当。
在美国，欧秦匹克一个月的供应价值为935.77美元，而维戈维的费用则为每月1349.02美元。
桑德斯承认他目前专注于诺和诺德公司，因为其药品的预计盈利能力，但表示他将很快解决礼来的竞争药物Mounjaro和Zepbound的价格问题。他称这些价格为“令人震惊的”。
桑德斯还打算审查PBMs，这些公司确定药品的覆盖范围和价格。但他强调，药企不能仅仅归咎于PBMs导致高昂的药价，声称，“说PBMs发挥了负面作用是对的，但尽管如此……（药企）仍在敲诈美国人民。”
桑德斯批评诺和诺德公司未与参议院委员会进行建设性对话，并指出该公司只在威胁传票后同意其CEO作证。
股价动态：截至周四，NVO股价下跌2.57%至139.08美元。
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