FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Doctors for America
PO Box: 21161
2300 18th St NW Lbby
Washington, DC 20009-9996
September 16, 2024
Doctors Demand Affordable Access to Novel Diabetes and Obesity Treatments
Physicians and health professionals from around the country demand that Novo Nordisk
and Eli Lilly make their novel diabetes and obesity medications affordable and accessible to all.
Washington, D.C.: Today, over 250 clinicians from across the country sent a letter to Congress asking legislators to rein in exorbitant prices for novel diabetes and obesity treatments so that patients can afford to lead healthier and happier lives. Physicians and other health professionals, including many who are members of Doctors for America, have joined this call to action to end corporate profiteering and protect affordable access for all patients.
“The exorbitant prices that manufacturers are asking my patients to pay for these novel diabetes and obesity medications are simply unacceptable. Too often, because manufacturers are pricing out my patients, I have to resort to treatment options that are less effective and less safe. These are life-changing treatments that should be available to my patients and everyone who needs them, not just those who can afford to pay,” says Dr. Kasia Lipska, a practicing endocrinologist and diabetes researcher at Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut.
Physicians across the country see through manufacturers’ attempts to change the narrative without real reform. Recently, Eli Lilly announced that they lowered the list price of low-dose vials of Zepbound, yet failed to mention that they had quietly raised treatment costs for patients who use the company’s savings coupons. Nor did the manufacturer acknowledge that this price change is still more than double the cost for the same or similar treatment in other countries. Novo Nordisk has also not disputed estimates of the cost of production for Ozempic published by researchers at Yale and Doctors Without Borders of $5-13 per month, one-hundredth of the price that the company currently charges patients with diabetes and obesity. Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk continue to prioritize those who have the means to pay to access these therapies, ignoring the reality that their arbitrary and prohibitive cost setting is leaving patients who need access the most with either unsafe or no options.
“In North Carolina, we have been struggling all year with lack of coverage for weight loss medications. When our state plan and large employers dropped coverage for weight loss medications earlier this year, patients were left without treatment. Those who wanted to continue on the medications could pay cash. But for most patients, paying hundreds of dollars without insurance coverage is not affordable. Even with drug company coupons or discounts on certain doses, these treatments are still unattainable for most of my patients,” says Dr. Elizabeth Dewey, a family medicine physician practicing in Greensboro, North Carolina.
Doctors are calling on manufacturers to lower their prices and urging Congress to do everything in its power to force the manufacturers to comply. Physicians want patients to be able to access medications that can improve their health and quality of life, but not at the expense of American taxpayers.
“The scientists at Novo Nordisk deserve great credit for developing these drugs that have the potential to be a game changer for millions of Americans struggling with type 2 diabetes and obesity. As important as these drugs are, they will not do any good for the millions of patients who cannot afford them. Further, if the prices for these products are not substantially reduced, they have the potential to bankrupt Medicare, Medicaid and our entire health care system. Doctors agree: when Americans pay up to ten or 15 times more for these medications than people in other countries, health becomes out of reach. I will do everything in my power to reduce both the list price and the net price of both Ozempic and Wegovy, and hugely appreciate the support of clinicians and doctors across the country who are fighting on behalf of their patients.” Said Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Chair Bernie Sanders (I-VT).
For press inquiries for members of the FDA Task Force Doctors for America please contact Claire Onyechi with Continuum Health Group ([email protected]).
About Doctors for America:
Doctors for America mobilizes doctors and medical students to be leaders in putting patients over politics to improve the health of our patients, communities, and nation. We are 27,000 physicians and medical students in all 50 states, representing all areas of specialization. Our impact areas focus on access to affordable care, community health and prevention, and health justice and equity. DFA focuses solely on what is best for our patients, not on the business side of medicine, and does not accept any funding from pharmaceutical or medical device companies; which uniquely positions DFA as the organization that puts patients over politics and patients over profits. Find out more at doctorsforamerica.org and on Twitter @drsforamerica.
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