Senator Sanders Secures Commitments to Expand Coverage for Diabetes and Weight-loss Drugs

U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders announced he obtained commitments from top pharmacy benefit managers to expand coverage for Novo Nordisk's diabetes and weight-loss drugs if their list prices are reduced. These assurances address concerns about the high costs of medications like Ozempic and Wegovy in the U.S. compared to other countries.

U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders revealed on Tuesday that he had secured commitments from leading pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to broaden coverage for Novo Nordisk's widely-used diabetes and weight-loss medications, provided the company reduces their list prices. This announcement was made during a Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions hearing.

Sanders confirmed that PBMs, including UnitedHealth Group's Optum, CVS Health's Caremark, and Cigna's Express Scripts, pledged to expand coverage for Ozempic and Wegovy if prices drop. This counters pharmaceutical companies' argument that reducing list prices would restrict coverage due to PBMs' preference for costly drugs that offer higher rebates.

At the hearing, Sanders questioned Novo Nordisk CEO Lars Jorgensen about the high costs of Ozempic and Wegovy in the U.S. compared to other countries. Despite Sanders' appeal, Jorgensen did not commit to a price reduction but noted that most patients with insurance pay significantly less than the list price. Sanders maintained that U.S. prices remain unfairly high even after discounts and rebates.

(With inputs from agencies.)