Novo Nordisk Spends Millions Promoting Obesity Drugs Amid Coverage Debate
Leading U.S. obesity specialist Dr. Lee Kaplan, who received $1.4 million from Novo Nordisk, advocates for aggressive treatment of obesity with lifelong prescriptions.
- Novo Nordisk, a Danish drugmaker, has spent $25.8 million over the past decade to promote its obesity drugs, Wegovy and Saxenda, primarily through payments to U.S. medical professionals.
- Dr. Lee Kaplan, a leading U.S. obesity specialist, has been a key advocate for the use of these drugs, having received $1.4 million from Novo Nordisk for consulting and travel between 2013 and 2022.
- Novo Nordisk aims to convince governments and insurers to cover the cost of these drugs, arguing that obesity should be treated as aggressively as other chronic diseases with lifelong prescriptions.
- Denmark's Health Minister, Sophie Lohde, has signaled the government's willingness to expand coverage for Wegovy if Novo Nordisk shares some of the financial burden.
- Critics argue that the widespread use of these expensive drugs could impose significant costs on the healthcare system, and that they have serious side effects and require more study.
Benzinga 
Reuters 
