Sanders urges Senate to subpoena Novo Nordisk president for testimony

U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders has intensified his scrutiny on Novo Nordisk by advocating for a Senate committee to issue a subpoena requiring the company's president, Doug Langa, to explain the pricing disparities of their diabetes and obesity medications in the U.S. compared to other countries. Sanders aims to uncover why Novo Nordisk's semaglutide-based drugs, Ozempic and Wegovy, are significantly more expensive in the United States.

The Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) committee, chaired by Sanders, is scheduled to vote on June 18 to decide whether Langa must testify at a hearing set for July 10. Sanders expressed frustration over Novo Nordisk's repeated refusals to voluntarily attend a hearing, despite numerous requests from the committee.

The push for the subpoena stemmed from an investigation initiated in April, sparked by a study published in JAMA Open Network. The study suggested that semaglutide, used for treating diabetes, could be sold profitably for under $1 per month. This revelation prompted further examination into Novo Nordisk's pricing strategies.

The committee's findings revealed significant pricing discrepancies between the U.S. and other countries. In the U.S., patients with type 2 diabetes pay $969 per month for Ozempic, a stark contrast to its cost of approximately $122 in Denmark, Novo Nordisk's home country. Similarly, patients using Wegovy for obesity treatment in the U.S. face a monthly cost of $1,348, while in Denmark, the price is just $186.

Sanders' investigation aims to address these inequities and explore whether such high prices in the U.S. can be justified. The senator's efforts reflect a broader push to make critical medications more affordable for Americans, particularly those with chronic conditions like diabetes and obesity.

If the subpoena is approved, it would compel Doug Langa to provide detailed testimony regarding Novo Nordisk's pricing policies. This move could potentially lead to significant changes in how pharmaceutical companies price their drugs in the U.S., particularly those that are life-saving or essential for managing chronic diseases.

Sanders' actions are part of a larger campaign to tackle the high cost of prescription drugs in the U.S. and ensure that they are accessible to all patients, regardless of their financial situation. The upcoming vote by the HELP committee will be a crucial step in determining whether Novo Nordisk's president will be required to answer questions under oath about the company's pricing strategies.