Jan 12 (Reuters) – Novo Nordisk Chief Executive Mike Doustdar said on Monday that as many as 1.5 million patients in the United States may be taking compounded versions of blockbuster GLP-1 drugs, underscoring how cheaper, unapproved alternatives account for a large portion of the need for obesity treatments.
Speaking on a panel at the JP Morgan Healthcare Conference, Dustdahl said compounders initially understood consumer needs better than the pharmaceutical industry did, allowing them to attract patients who were unable or unwilling to pay for brand-name drugs.
Novo, the maker of obesity drug Wegovy, has repeatedly warned of the risks of compounded and counterfeit versions of its GLP-1 drugs, which are often sold online and directly to consumers.
Doustdar said many patients may be tempted by compounded GLP-1, which costs around $199 per month, while brand-name products without insurance can cost hundreds of dollars.
“It’s not because these 500,000 patients prefer to use unsafe, knock-off versions of our products…They (the compound manufacturers) are capturing a segment of consumers who are price-conscious about the entire product.”
In early January, Novo launched a daily oral version of Wegovy in the U.S. starting at $149 a month, hoping to attract consumers who can’t get insurance and revive its success in the fiercely competitive weight-loss market.
However, Dustdahl said the company distinguishes between the legitimate online pharmacies and telemedicine providers it supports, and the group of independent sellers offering counterfeit products.
“It’s astonishing that a group of companies, certified by the FDA, can come to this market and sell unsafe knock-off products,” he said, adding that Novo would continue to fight against such practices.
He said the shift toward compounded drugs, which are essentially copies of brand-name drugs, is an important lesson for Novo as it re-evaluates its pricing and access strategy for obesity treatments.
(Reporting by Mrinalika Roy and Maggie Fick; Editing by Shilpi Majumdar)
