Ozempic, an appetite suppressant injection also known as semaglutide, currently costs $935.77 without insurance in the United States. But a new study published in JAMA Network Open Wednesday by Yale University, King's College Hospital in London, and Médecins Sans Frontières finds that while reducing prescription drug prices to a fraction of their current levels, This suggests that there is potential to generate profits. profit.
The researchers analyzed commercial trade shipment data from January 1, 2016 to March 31, 2023, along with drug manufacturing costs, other operating costs, profit margins and taxes. They found that Ozempic's cost-based pricing ranged from $0.89 to $4.73 per month.
“The results of this study suggest that insulin, SGLT2I, and GLP1A are likely to be able to be manufactured at prices well below current prices, making them more widely accessible,” the researchers wrote. ing.
A pharmacist holds a box of Novo Nordisk A/S Ozempic brand semaglutide medication.Photographer: George Fry/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Ozempic is cheaper outside the United States. A month's supply of the shot costs less than $300 in Mexico, Bloomberg reported.
Ozempic's maker, Novo Nordisk, told Bloomberg that “outside the United States, each country has different regulatory requirements regarding drug pricing, including negotiations with national government agencies.”
Related: FDA seizes 'thousands' of counterfeit Ozempic products amid reports of 'side effects' in patients
Drug price hikes have been the subject of national scrutiny for years, with former Turing Pharmaceuticals president Martin Shkreli raising the price of a life-saving drug by 4,000% and forcing him to pay $64 million in 2022. It was done.
According to the Mayo Clinic, Ozempic falls under the category of GLP-1 drugs, which means it combats type 2 diabetes by improving blood sugar control and potentially also leads to weight loss.
Trilliant Health researchers found that prescriptions for GLP-1 drugs increased by 300% between 2020 and 2022. Ozempic made headlines for the first time in his 2021 year. Dr. Oz Show.
Related: Ozempic maker Novo Nordisk sues spas and clinics for allegedly selling counterfeit products
Ozempic and other similar drugs can cause an average weight loss of 15 to 20 percent, “significantly higher than traditional options,” according to Columbia Surgery.
The publication warns that Ozempic requires a lifelong commitment because if you stop taking Ozempic, you may regain all your weight. This drug can also cause nausea, cramps, and other unpleasant side effects.
Despite its high costs and potential downsides, Ozempic's popularity soared last year, with 66% of its more than $13 billion in sales coming from the U.S., according to Novo Nordisk's 2023 annual report. Ta.
Related: Novo Nordisk is worth more than Denmark's GDP thanks to America's Ozempic and Wegoby fads
