The hearing will focus on the outrageously high cost of Ozempic and Wegovy
WASHINGTON, June 14 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), announced today that Novo Nordisk CEO Lars Jørgensen has reconsidered his position and has agreed to testify voluntarily on a solo panel before the Committee. The hearing will focus on the outrageously high prices that Novo Nordisk charges Americans for their blockbuster drugs, Ozempic and Wegovy. The hearing will be held in early September.
“I enjoyed the opportunity of chatting with Mr. Jørgensen this afternoon and thank him for agreeing to voluntarily testify on a solo panel before the HELP Committee on the high cost of Ozempic and Wegovy in the United States,” said Sanders. “The scheduled subpoena vote is no longer necessary and will be cancelled.”
Sanders continued: “The American people are sick and tired of paying, by far, the highest prices in the world for prescription drugs. Novo Nordisk currently charges Americans with Type 2 diabetes $969 a month for Ozempic, while this same exact drug can be purchased for just $155 in Canada and just $59 in Germany. Novo Nordisk also charges Americans with obesity $1,349 a month for Wegovy, while this same exact product can be purchased for just $140 in Germany and $92 in the United Kingdom. The Committee looks forward to Mr. Jørgensen explaining why Americans are paying up to ten or 15 times more for these medications than people in other countries.”