Novo Nordisk CEO Lars Jorgensen has agreed to testify voluntarily in a hearing organized by the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
US Senate Cancels Novo Subpoena Over Ozempic, Wegovy Prices
The hearing will focus on the prices of weight loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy in the United States.
The US Senate health panel vote was initially planned for its June 18 meeting to determine whether Novo should be subpoenaed to address concerns about US drug prices, which is no longer required and will be called off, according to Senator Bernie Sanders, the committee chair.
Novo President Doug Langa would have been required to testify at a July 10 hearing, Reuters reported. Jorgensen is scheduled to give testimony before the committee, with the hearing set to take place in early September.
According to Sanders, Novo charges Americans $1,349 monthly for Wegovy, whereas it can be bought for $140 in Germany and $92 in the UK.
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Investigation into Ozempic, Wegovy Prices
According to The Hill, Sanders had planned to hold a vote in the upcoming week regarding a subpoena for Doug Langa, the head of Novo Nordisk's US division, to attend a hearing.
In April, Sanders investigated the exorbitant prices of Ozempic and Wegovy, deeming them unjustifiably high.
The individual raised concerns about the pricing disparity between Novo Nordisk's products in the US and other Western countries, such as Canada and Germany, noting that patients in the US are charged significantly higher prices.
Sanders once again warned drug company executives, indicating his intention to subpoena them for testimony.
This marks the second instance this year that he has made such a threat. He employed comparable strategies when dealing with Merck and Johnson & Johnson CEOs.
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