Novo Nordisk CEO: White House deal aims to broaden access to Wegovy

Investing.com -- Novo Nordisk’s CEO Mike Doustdar said Monday that the company’s agreement with the White House to reduce prices on its popular weight-loss drugs is designed to expand access through the U.S. Medicare program.

"It would be a pity if this molecule (semaglutide) is only being used by the upper class and the rich," Doustdar stated during an event hosted by the Danish Shareholder’s Association.

"The deal is in a nutshell about reducing the price but also opening up access to Medicare," he explained, referring to the federal health insurance program for people aged 65 and older or those with disabilities.

Doustdar noted that while the company has "a fantastic pipeline," he acknowledged that "no pipeline is perfect when you’re trying to treat a billion people."

The CEO emphasized that Novo Nordisk should not focus exclusively on competition with Eli Lilly, but rather on expanding the overall obesity drug market. He also pointed out that patients using obesity medications tend to change their treatment regimens more frequently than those using insulin.

Regarding the U.S. market, Doustdar mentioned that "the volume upgrade in the U.S. comes slower than the price decline."

The Wegovy maker appears well-positioned for product availability, with Doustdar stating, "We have more than enough stock of Wegovy pills" and confirming plans to go "all in" on the launch of the Wegovy pill.

The company will hold a capital markets day in mid-2026, according to the CEO.

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