The pharmaceutical company behind the “miracle” weight-loss vaccine Wegovy was kicked out of the trade body today following an “extensive investigation” into shocking allegations it “bribed” pharmacists.
The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) said Novo Nordisk had acted in a manner that could “discredit or reduce confidence in the industry”.
The action stems from a training event organized for UK healthcare professionals sponsored by the Danish pharmaceutical giant.
The training comes with an offer to help fund the paperwork so they can prescribe another drug to Brits trying to lose weight.
Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk suspended by UK pharma body after finding ethical breaches
A spokesman for Novo Nordisk, which makes Wegovy (pictured), told MailOnline: “While we are disappointed by the outcome, we accept the decision.
The ABPI found this amounted to a “prescribing inducement” for medics, with fewer than 4,500 UK health professionals taking part in the campaign before the alarm was raised.
It follows a huge wave of publicity after Novo Nordisk's drug Wegovy was approved for use on the NHS.
ABPI's suspension will last for two years.
In June 2021, a Novo Nordisk-linked training company posted the ad on the professional networking site LinkedIn and was reported by a “relevant” UK health professional.
The ad, which shows an overweight woman sitting on a park bench with a drink on her phone, reads: “#obesity affects about a quarter of all #adults in #UK, you Does the #pharmacy offer #weight management services? If not, we have the funds to help you get started! Join us on Sunday mornings for a free #webinar to start your journey.
This amounted to “bribing health professionals with the prescribing incentive,” the complaint said.
While the ad does not name Novo Nordisk directly, the accompanying website link mentions that the company has reviewed all material for accuracy.
Materials from training events suggest that Saxenda is a more popular choice for weight loss than other drugs.
Saxenda, also known as liraglutide, is manufactured by Novo Nordisk.
Response to APBI's initial investigation Novo Nordisk claims it has agreed to the sponsorship to ensure health professionals will receive training from reputable providers.
It said it supported the campaign “at arms length”.
The ABPI panel investigating the complaint found that the company had violated the standards it expected of its approximately 120 members.
It concluded that the company's funding of health professionals, including more than two years of training on how to set up weight-loss services, was clearly linked to the promotion of its drug Saxenda and aimed directly at increasing its use.
The British Pharmaceutical Industry Association suspended Novo Nordisk's membership for two years because it was linked to a training campaign that strongly favored its production of a drug called Saxenda (also known as Lirarule) compared to other medicines. Peptide) weight loss needle
Of the 4,399 health professionals who completed the training, 599 received Novo Nordisk-funded prescription support, according to the ABPI survey.
They also said they were concerned about “the patient safety implications of providing unbalanced information to a broad audience,” especially given that weight loss is a “highly emotional area.”
The panel also noted that Saxenda's safety and side effects were lacking in balance when compared to competitors.
A Novo Nordisk spokesman said: “While we are disappointed by the outcome, we accept the decision.
“We remain committed to complying with the ABPI Code of Conduct and maintaining the highest ethical standards required by the pharmaceutical industry.”
This is only the eighth time in the last forty years that the ABPI has lobbied the government on behalf of its members – issued such a major sanction.
Novo Nordisk is due to be audited in 2023 and 2024, at which point it needs to demonstrate “clear, significant and sustained improvement” before ABPI can consider allowing the company to reinstate its membership.
The suspension follows the departure of Pinder Sahota, head of Novo Nordisk's UK operations, who resigned as ABPI president last month to avoid a “disruption” of the association's “important work” as the irregularities investigate complaints .
Novo Nordisk is considered the market leader in the fast-growing field of drug therapy for weight loss.
Rich countries are grappling with rising rates of obesity and related diseases such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease, sparking a desperate search for solutions.
Saxenda is an older drug that has been approved by the NHS for weight loss and is also known as liraglutide.
It is an injectable drug given daily to make a person feel fuller and reduce hunger.
This causes them to eat less and, in theory, lose weight.
Liraglutide is usually prescribed only when the patient is referred to a professional weight loss management service and other weight loss medications have not worked.
It works in a similar way to Novo Nordisk's new obesity treatment Wegovy, which is thought to be more effective.
Despite being hailed as one of the most powerful pharmaceutical tools to date, experts warn it's not a “magic bullet” or miracle cure. Trials have shown that once users stop taking the anti-cellulite drug, they gain weight rapidly and experience a variety of serious side effects.After taking the drug, users commonly complain of nausea, constipation and diarrhea
Wegovy works by triggering the body to produce a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1, which is naturally released from the gut after meals
The move comes after NHS medicines regulator the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) approved Wegovy for use in people with a BMI of 35 or above – a classification meaning they are morbidly obese.
Patients must also have at least one weight-related comorbidity, such as type 2 diabetes, to be eligible.
Adults with a BMI between 30 and 35 may also be recommended this drug if they are referred for specialist help.
But patients who qualify for the injection, which works through an active ingredient called semaglutide, must take it for up to two years.
And, while it's being hailed as one of the most powerful pharmaceutical tools yet, experts warn that it's not a “magic bullet” or a cure-all miracle.
Trials have shown that users quickly gained weight once they stopped taking the fat-fighting drug, which has been dubbed “Hollywood's best kept secret” and used by the likes of Elon Musk.
It can trigger all sorts of nasty side effects. Some patients told how they had to stop taking the drug.
After taking the drug, users often complain of nausea, constipation and diarrhea.
Some people also suffer from acid reflux, fatigue, and complain that food doesn't taste the same after taking the medicine.
It's this side effect that some people believe can further help them lose weight — making their favorite junk food unpalatable.
Other, less common side effects include gallstones, inflammation of the pancreas (medically known as pancreatitis), and an increased risk of low blood sugar and kidney problems.
