Senator Hassan Presses Novo Nordisk to Increase Access to Lower-Cost Medications

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan pressed the CEO of a major drug manufacturer, Novo Nordisk, on increasing access to lower-cost insulin and obesity medication for Americans at a Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Hearing.

To watch Senator Hassan's hearing questions, click here.

Senator Hassan began by highlighting the impact of Novo Nordisk's abrupt discontinuation of the insulin drug, Levemir, on Americans with diabetes. Hassan has previously urged Big Pharma companies, including Novo Nordisk, to improve patient access to lower-cost insulin. She asked Mr. Jørgensen, the CEO of Novo Nordisk, to commit to allowing biosimilar access in the U.S. market.

"Levemir is a critical insulin product… By discontinuing Levemir in January of 2024, Novo Nordisk interrupted the diabetes care plans of millions of Americans with only a few weeks' notice. Will Novo Nordisk agree to provide any interested company with the necessary information and drug formulation to make Levemir?"

After Senator Hassan pushed him further, Mr. Jørgensen stated that if a drug company was interested, Novo Nordisk would collaborate with potential manufacturers, but refused to name the specific steps the company would take to identify and help another manufacturer for Levemir.

Senator Hassan then pressed Mr. Jørgensen on his arguments that Novo Nordisk must keep prices high for its widely used diabetes and weight loss medications Ozempic and Wegovy, because otherwise pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) would stop covering the medications. Senator Hassan read Mr. Jørgensen statements from the three largest PBMs confirming that they would not limit access to Ozempic and Wegovy and that, in fact, some suggested that lowering the list price would expand access for consumers. "With that in mind, would you please commit to lowering the list price of these drugs?" said Senator Hassan. Mr. Jørgensen refused to commit to lowering the list price and insisted that "less patients have access to our medicines when we have lowered the price."

Senator Hassan concluded by noting the importance of allowing other low-cost drug options to go to market. "Lastly, I just want to note that one way of reducing drug prices is encouraging the entry of generic and biosimilar medications, which can provide lower-cost options for patients. So, I will follow up with you to - I hope - get a commitment that Novo Nordisk will not stand in the way of other companies coming up with lower-cost version of these drugs if the companies currently have them in development."

Senator Hassan is working to lower prescription drug costs for Americans. Last year's government funding bill, which is now law, included three bipartisan measures backed by Senator Hassan to increase access to generic and biosimilar medications. In addition, she successfully pushed to cap insulin costs for those on Medicare as part of the Inflation Reduction Act that became law in 2022. Senator Hassan has also introduced bipartisan legislation to close oversight gaps that drug manufacturers take advantage of to keep prescription drug prices high, which will be considered in the HELP Committee tomorrow.

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