The Fight for Affordable ZepBound and Wegovy

Introduction to the Urgent Issue of GLP-1 Medication Prices today we're tackling an urgent issue the obscene prices of glp1 medications like Zep bound OIC wovi and Manjaro early this week President Biden and Senator Bernie Sanders wrote an oped in the in USA Today addressing this critical problem stick around to learn more about their take and why we must make these life-changing medications affordable for everyone hey everyone I'm Christopher Durham here from the downsized we the go-to channel for all things related to weight loss with glp1 medications like the list I said earlier it was zic wovi zip bound you name it we're talking about it before diving into today's topic of drug prices I want to share my Personal Journey with GLP-1 Medications personal Journey with you since September 29th 2024 I've lost 70 pounds using glp1 medications including Zep bound mangaro and compounded tepati these medications have dramatically changed and improved my life and my health they have helped me lower my high blood pressure and cholesterol in my snoring and sleep apnea and improve my over all health and fitness this transformation is why I'm so passionate about making these medications accessible to everyone please take a Community Guidelines and Call to Action moment like And subscribe to our channel to stay updated on our latest videos and join our community advocating for Better Health and more accessible medications for obesity I also want to challenge downsize viewers this is our community and we will not allow the conversation in the comments to devolve into Political chaos any comments that are unkind disrespectful or mean will be deleted this discussion is an opportunity to discuss gp1s not a slippery political slope let's keep the focus on making these life-changing medications affordable and accessible Biden and Sanders' Op-Ed on Drug Prices early this week President Biden and Senator Bernie Sanders published an oped in USA Today addressing the high cost of weight loss medications produced by Nova Nordisk and Eli Lily as we know these medications can be life-changing but their high prices put them out of reach for many Americans in 2012 23 Americans were paying 10 times more for a zic compared to patients in the UK who paid $936 per month versus $93 meanwhile wovi cost $1,349 a month in the US but only 296 in the Netherlands the stark contrast in prices has drawn the attention of Senator Bernie Sanders and now he and the president are talking about it this isn't of course the first time we've talked about Bernie he has been out fighting for healthc care for a while now he's a staunch critic of the pharmaceutical industry who is now focusing on the exorbitant costs of these transformative medications as chairman of the Senate health education labor and pensions committee or they call it the help committee Sanders is preparing to take action Sanders emphasized the significance of OIC and wovi as potentially among the bestselling pharmaceutical products in history vital for treating diabetes and obesity he is gearing up to confront Lars furar Jorgenson CEO of Novo Nordisk the Danish Farm pharmaceutical company behind both drugs under the threat of subpoena Jorgensen has agreed to testify before Sanders Committee in September acknowledging the uphill battle ahead Sanders remarked you're taking on a company which will make billions of dollars every single year many billions from the US on just this product so do I think this is going to be a difficult challenge why yes I do in their oped Biden and Sanders highlighted a stark reality the pair wrote it is most certainly not Americans patriotic duty to pay high drug prices at home so others abroad can enjoy the fair prices that every American is entitled to this sentiment resonates deeply with many of us who have seen firsthand the impact these high costs can have on our health and on our finances so let's take a closer look the significant disparity in The Stark Reality of Drug Pricing Disparities drug pricing is a major issue this is a big deal guys noo nordis o zic and wovi and Eli Lily's Monaro and Zep bound are priced significantly higher in the US than any other country this isn't just a minor difference it's a massive financial burden that many Americans simply cannot shoulder the pair stated the prices of OIC and wovi can be up to six times higher than prices in Canada Germany Denmark and other major countries that's unacceptable the reality is that these high costs are not sustainable if half of us adults with obesity took drugs like wovi or Zep bound it would cost $411 billion per year more than what Americans spent on all prescription drugs in 2022 Biden and Sanders warned if the prices of these drugs are not substantially reduced they have the potential to bankrupt the American Health Care system so why does this matter well Lorraine and I know the importance of the medications they have changed our lives and they can change the lives of millions of people who have the disease of obesity but only if they afford them the high cost of glp1 medications like Zep bound Manjaro zic and wovi is not just a personal issue it's a Public Health crisis we need these affordable medications so everyone can benefit from their incredible potential Biden and Sanders also The Broader Implications of High Drug Prices addressed the broader implications of these high drug prices if just half of all Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries who are obese took these drugs Medicare and Medicaid could spend 166 billion ion dollar per year it's simply not justifiable or sustainable what they said is this is not morally responsible or physically responsible the pharmaceutical industry's role in this is huge they often justify high prices by pointing to research and development costs however Biden and Sanders challenged this narrative by highlighting these companies massive profits in 2023 for example Nova Nordisk made over 12 billion in profits in part by charging Americans over $1,000 a month for prescription drugs that can profitably be manufactured for less than $5 that is not making a responsible return on investment that is price gouging that is Corporate greed so what Corporate Greed and the Fight for Fair Pricing are we doing we're calling for fair pricing the scientists at Nova Nordisk and El deserve great credit for developing these powerful medications it's certainly life-changing however as Biden and Sanders point out these drugs will not benefit the millions of patients who cannot afford them they say moreover if the prices of these drugs are not substantially reduced they can bankrupt the American Health Care system this is our fight for lower prices right the entire glp1 our entire downsized community so what can we do well we can support efforts to lower drug prices and ensure that these life-changing life saving medications are accessible to all we can raise our voices and demand that pharmaceutical companies stop prioritizing extreme profit over people Nova Nordisk and Eli Lily must recognize that their pricing strategies are unsustainable as Biden and sander stated it's time for these companies to lower their prices and make these life-saving medications accessible to all the benefits of gp1s are undeniable they have helped me manage my weight and improve my overall health however I'm acutely aware of how fortunate I am to have these medications to have access and be to be able to afford them many are not as lucky this fight is not just about policy it's about people real people who need these medications to live healthier happier lives to wrap my Conclusion and Call for Continued Advocacy diet tribe up the fight for affordable obesity drug prices is far from over efforts to expand the benefits of legislation and negotiating drug prices are crucial steps in the right direction but let's be clear it's not just about government action it's about demanding that pharmaceutical companies stop ripping off the American people lorine and I will continue to advocate for affordable accessible care for anyone who suffers from the disease of obesity it's important we will keep you updated on the latest developments and share ways you can get involved in this crucial fight I'm Christopher D and this is the downsized thank you for watching stay healthy and let's keep pushing for change don't forget to like And subscribe to stay updated on our glp1 weight loss Adventure thank you very much