A new research study has found that the drug Ozempic, used to treat diabetes and obesity, can be sold at a profit for less than $5, but instead manufacturer Novo Nordisk charges nearly $1,000 in the U.S.
Ozempic could be made for between 89 cents and $4.73 for a one-month supply, an amount that also includes a profit margin, researchers found. On a per-month basis, the study determined, the drug could be made for less than the diabetes drug insulin. Novo Nordisk would not share production costs for the drug nor Wegovy, its similar drug that treats obesity, but said that it is investing significantly to make sure that people have access to its drugs.
Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) blasted the company in a statement, saying “This outrageously high price has the potential to bankrupt Medicare, the American people and our entire health care system.” He called on Novo Nordisk to decrease the price of Ozempic to just $155 a month or lower, which is consistent with what the drug costs in other countries.
Novo Nordisk’s 2023 sales of Wegovy and Ozempic exceeded $18 billion. Bloomberg Law estimated that the patents linked to the drugs likely won’t expire until June 2033. The research found that Ozempic’s active ingredient, semaglutide, costs about 29 cents for a month’s supply. The cost of filling each pen is around 20 cents per month, while the other chemical ingredients cost around 15 center per monthly dose.
