[ad_1]
Weight-loss medication like Ozempic, Wegovy and Rybelus are markedly costlier within the US than in different rich nations — as much as 10 instances extra.
An evaluation of costs in 10 nations by the Kaiser Household Basis (KFF) discovered a one-month provide of Ozempic — which is accredited to deal with diabetes however is commonly prescribed off-label for weight reduction — has an inventory value of $936 within the US.
A listing value is the price the producer of the drug publicly costs it when promoting to wholesalers, who buy medication from producers to promote to pharmacies, hospitals and clinics.
Whereas the record value doesn’t essentially replicate what customers can pay, sufferers typically must pay extra to offset the worth the producers set.
A month’s provide of Rybelsus, a pill quite than injection type of Ozempic’s identical lively ingredient, semaglutide, prices $936 within the US
Among the many 9 different nations KFF checked out, all paid lower than $170 for a similar quantity of the identical drug.
Ozempic is accessible in all 10 nations KFF checked out: the US, Japan, Canada, Switzerland, Germany, Netherlands, Sweden, UK, Australia and France.
It was 5 instances as expensive within the US as in Japan ($169), which has the second highest record value.
In the meantime Wegovy, which is accredited to deal with diabetes and weight-loss, is presently solely out there within the US, Germany and Netherlands.
Wegovy is sort of 4 instances costlier in America, priced at $1,349 for a month’s provide than in Germany, the place it’s $328.
Within the Netherlands, Wegovy is priced even decrease at $296 for one month’s value.
A month’s provide of Rybelsus, a pill quite than injection type of Ozempic’s lively ingredient, additionally prices $936 within the US. In Japan, Rybelsus is simply $69.
Even with a cost-savings program, KFF stated US sufferers will nonetheless pay $225 for a 28-day provide of Wegovy if their medical health insurance plans cowl the drug. If it isn’t lined, they should pay greater than double, at $500 for a month’s provide.
Wegovy, Ozempic and Rybelus are all model names of the drug semaglutide, which is manufactured by Danish pharma firm Novo Nordisk.
Semaglutide imitates a hormone referred to as GLP-1 which is launched in response to meals consumption and encourages insulin manufacturing whereas concurrently suppressing customers’ appetites.
The excessive value of the drug within the US is also because of demand.
Ozempic gross sales within the US are so excessive they’re pushing Denmark to maintain rates of interest low as a result of large inflow of international forex.
The KFF evaluation stated: ‘What affect these medication have on whole well being prices in a rustic will rely not simply on the web costs for the medication, but in addition on how many individuals use them.’
[ad_2]
Discussion about this post