# “Last hope”: Eager Germans are prepared to pay for weight-loss drug Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2023-07-25 Category: NEWS Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news Meta Title: Desperate German Patients Seek Last Hope in Expensive Meta Description: Discover why frustrated Germans are preparing to pay for Wegovy, Novo Nordisk's weight-loss drug, as their last hope for a life without obesity. URL: https://financedigest.com/last-hope-eager-germans-are-prepared-to-pay-for-weight-loss-drughtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/2023-07-25t105438z4lynxmpej6o03wrtroptp4health-obesity-novo-nordisk-germany-1736813724564-compressed.jpg) ## “Last hope”: Eager Germans are prepared to pay for weight-loss drug By Ludwig Burger and Maggie Fick FRANKFURT/LONDON (Reuters) – Frustrated after countless failed diet and exercise attempts, 41 year-old Jessica Lenth from Hamburg has started putting money aside for a drug that she sees as a possible door to a life without obesity. Interviews with seven doctors and two other potential users of Wegovy from Germany, where Novo Nordisk’s weight-loss drug will become available at the end of July, show the office administrator isn’t alone. “It’s a bit like a last hope I cling to. I’ve just learnt the price. For now, I’ll be [saving a bit of money](https://www.financedigest.com/the-top-strategies-for-saving-money-on-energy-costs.html "The Top Strategies for Saving Money on Energy Costs") before I try to get it,” Lenth told Reuters by telephone. The doctors say they are hearing a similar message from hundreds of obese or overweight patients and expect high demand for Wegovy prescriptions even though public [health insurance](https://www.financedigest.com/general-health-insurance-help-aviva-to-h1-profit-beat.html "General, health insurance help Aviva to H1 profit beat") plans covering about 90% of Germans will not foot the bill. The interviews suggest many patients will be [prepared to pay themselves for the weekly](https://www.financedigest.com/facebook-parent-meta-is-preparing-large-scale-layoffs-this-week-wsj.html "Facebook parent Meta is preparing large-scale layoffs this week – WSJ") injection, at an initial cost of about 170 euros ($190) a month but just over 300 euros longer term. For the 10% of Germans with private health insurance, coverage will depend on contract terms. Allianz [says](https://www.financedigest.com/russia-says-no-need-to-use-nuclear-weapons-in-ukraine.html "Russia says ‘no need’ to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine") it will pay if a physician diagnoses a medical need while Debeka said its plans exclude weight-loss treatments. Patient advocates and physicians welcomed the arrival of Wegovy in Germany, where 18.5% of adults are obese, more than the European Union average of 16%. The Robert Koch Institute for [public health says](https://www.financedigest.com/uk-will-not-urge-public-to-cut-energy-use-minister-says.html "UK will not urge public to cut energy use, minister says") diseases linked to excess body weight pose a considerable burden on health and social security systems. Wegovy’s launch in Germany, its third [European market](https://www.financedigest.com/white-bullets-collaboration-with-polands-sygnal-association-significantly-reduces-ad-funded-piracy-in-key-european-market.html "White Bullet’s collaboration with Poland’s Sygnał Association significantly reduces ad-funded piracy in key European market") and the region’s largest, comes as Novo is ramping up production to meet soaring demand in the United States, where the drug sells for as much as $1,350 a month. The Danish drugmaker told Reuters it would closely monitor prescriptions in Germany to ensure that people with obesity can start and continue [treatment](https://www.financedigest.com/precise-remote-monitoring-to-steal-the-ankle-syndesmosis-treatment-devices-market.html "Precise Remote Monitoring to steal the Ankle Syndesmosis Treatment Devices Market"). Nevertheless, if [demand is higher than expected](https://www.financedigest.com/demand-for-fast-transit-of-logged-woods-from-forests-to-stock-areas-is-expected-to-result-in-higher-demand-for-forwarders.html "Demand for Fast Transit of Logged Woods From Forests to Stock Areas Is Expected To Result In Higher Demand For Forwarders"), we cannot rule out the possibility of supply delays and shortages in the coming months,” it said. Novo’s [shares have rallied](https://www.financedigest.com/world-shares-rally-as-china-offers-markets-a-hand.html "World shares rally as China offers markets a hand") nearly 120% since Wegovy debuted in June 2021, making it Europe’s second-most-valuable listed company after LVMH. In Germany, Wegovy will be administered with the same injection pen used in Norway and Denmark, not the one used in the United States to avoid [hitting supplies](https://www.financedigest.com/new-zealand-navy-vessels-with-supplies-to-reach-tsunami-hit-tonga-on-friday.html "New Zealand navy vessels with supplies to reach tsunami-hit Tonga on Friday") there. A swift uptake could nevertheless further strain Novo’s ability to [meet demand](https://www.financedigest.com/britains-national-grid-expects-to-meet-electricity-demand-this-winter.html "Britain’s National Grid expects to meet electricity demand this winter"). Wegovy’s introduction in [Germany](https://www.financedigest.com/germanys-fraport-sees-earnings-boost-on-higher-passenger-volumes.html "Germany’s Fraport sees earnings boost on higher passenger volumes") is likely to stir the debate over what constitutes a medical need in a nation that doctors said often sees obesity as a “lifestyle choice” rather than a chronic disease. Dr. Sylvia Weiner, who runs an obesity clinic at Sana Klinikum Offenbach near Frankfurt, has fielded questions about Wegovy from [several dozen patients](https://www.financedigest.com/covid-patients-showing-less-severe-symptoms-uk-vaccine-minister-says.html "COVID patients showing less severe symptoms, UK vaccine minister says") in the past few months and anticipates many more. “We are really waiting for Wegovy,” she said. “Patients are so desperate in Germany that they will pay out of their pocket for the medication.” ## POTENTIAL IMPACT Used alongside diet and exercise changes, Wegovy has been shown to help obese people lose about 15% of their bodyweight. But [clinical trial](https://www.financedigest.com/a-report-on-global-clinical-trial-management-system-market-by-pmr.html "A Report On Global Clinical Trial Management System Market By PMR") data shows people regain weight after they stop taking it. [Reuters reported last](https://www.financedigest.com/naturgys-profit-rises-on-lng-gains-soothing-shareholders-by-pietro-lombardi-madrid-reuters-spanish-power-utility-naturgy-reported-on-monday-an-88-jump-in-profit-for-the-first-six-months-of.html "Naturgy’s profit rises on LNG gains, soothing shareholders By Pietro Lombardi MADRID (Reuters) – Spanish power utility Naturgy reported on Monday an 88% jump in profit for the first six months of the year, boosted by strong earnings at its liquefied natural gas (LNG) business, which could help it to win over restive investors. Earlier this month, the company said it would increase its dividend floor through 2025 while trimming expected investment, as it sought to make rewarding shareholders a priority. Pleasing them has become a focus as Naturgy considers changes that could reshape the company and after arguments over the potential appointment of a chief executive. Naturgy’s first-half net profit jumped to 1.05 billion euros (.16 billion), boosted by its liquefied natural gas (LNG) business. Shares were down 0.2% in mid-morning trading, bucking deeper declines, in particular for Spain’s blue-chip banks and utilities after a general election on Sunday produced no clear winner. Renta 4 Banco analyst Angel Perez Llamazares said Naturgy performed better than expected, adding “cash flows also beat our expectation,” and debt fell more than expected. After natural gas prices hit record levels last year, Naturgy said a fall in procurement costs this year and hedging gains had boosed profits. In the first half of the year, the company “exceeded the objectives of operating efficiency, cash generation, investment materialisation and debt reduction,” Executive Chairman and CEO Francisco Reynes said. After rival Iberdrola named a separate CEO last year, Naturgy is the only large energy company in Spain to combine the roles of executive chairman and CEO. Earlier this month, the company raised the dividend floor to 1.40 euros a share, from 1.20 euros. Operating profit (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation) is expected to reach 5.1 billion euros, compared with a previous guidance of 4.8 billion euros. It said it was targeting net profit of 1.8 billion euros in 2025. Naturgy also relaunched its plan to split regulated infrastructure operations and liberalised energy businesses into two listed companies. The project had been suspended after the Ukraine war disrupted energy markets and analysts are still sceptical. “We believe it is unlikely that Naturgy will be able to implement its asset split in the short term and it is also unlikely that a big change in the shareholding of the company would occur,” said RBC analyst Fernando Garcia. ( = 0.8986 euros) (Reporting by Pietro Lombardi, editing by Inti Landauro and Barbara Lewis)") week that most U.S. patients stopped using [weight-loss drugs](https://www.financedigest.com/analysis-europe-faces-long-wait-for-weight-loss-drugs-as-governments-eye-costs.html "Analysis-Europe faces long wait for weight-loss drugs as governments eye costs") within a year. Dr. Karl Rheinwalt, an obesity specialist at St Franziskus-Hospital Cologne, reckons the cost will [limit uptake in Germany](https://www.financedigest.com/sky-no-longer-the-limit-for-germanys-mainhattan-skyscraper-boom.html "Sky no longer the limit for Germany’s ‘Mainhattan’ skyscraper boom"). But Munich-based Dr. Thomas Horbach – who like Weiner and Rheinwalt performs gastric bypass and other bariatric surgeries – says some of his patients who are overweight but not diabetic already pay for Ozempic, a diabetes drug also made by Novo, themselves. Using the same [active ingredient](https://www.financedigest.com/the-animal-health-active-pharmaceutical-ingredients-market-to-subvert-monotony.html "The Animal Health Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients Market to subvert monotony") at a lower dose, Ozempic costs less per milligram of active substance than Wegovy. “My experience is that people will be able to pay for it out of (their own) pocket,” said Horbach. He said the ban on reimbursement by public health schemes under a 1980s law that categorises weight-loss therapies as lifestyle drugs, discriminates against people with low incomes. Novo said prescription drugs in Germany were generally excluded from rebate or coupon promotions. Some specialists [say the lifestyle drug classification reinforces a widely](https://www.financedigest.com/caixabank-proposes-sector-wide-freeze-in-variable-mortgage-costs-source-says.html "Caixabank proposes sector-wide freeze in variable mortgage costs, source says") held view that those with obesity and related conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure have themselves to blame. “Patients suffer enormously from the stigma because they feel isolated, because it’s a visible disease that has been unfairly associated with attributes such as laziness,” said Dr. Juergen Ordemann, another surgeon and [head of obesity at Berlin’s Vivantes hospital](https://www.financedigest.com/former-u-s-president-clinton-leaves-hospital-heads-to-new-york.html "Former U.S. President Clinton leaves hospital, heads to New York") chain. Without public health insurance for obesity drugs, and very limited payments for obesity-specific psychotherapy, treatment in Germany often means surgery for the most severe cases, with a BMI of around 50. ## DIET AND EXERCISE All the doctors interviewed by Reuters said they intend to prescribe Wegovy alongside structured diet and exercise programmes. Many worried that supplies would be further strained by non-obese people seeking “vanity” prescriptions – a concern reflected in a Novo statement last [week saying](https://www.financedigest.com/gazprom-says-it-will-not-sell-gas-on-its-spot-platform-this-week.html "Gazprom says it will not sell gas on its spot platform this week") physicians should “prescribe responsibly. Doctors [say they will primarily consider](https://www.financedigest.com/uk-considering-delay-to-northern-ireland-elections-ireland-minister-says.html "UK considering delay to Northern Ireland elections, Ireland minister says") Wegovy for patients who are at the early stages of obesity, with a BMI of around 30 or slightly higher, and not recommended for surgery. Severely affected patients would still require surgery but they could use the drug to prepare for their procedures and help them maintain a lower weight afterwards. Michael Wirtz, a civil engineering [project manager](https://www.financedigest.com/power-management-integrated-circuit-pmic-market-is-projected-to-grow-at-6-4-during-2021-2028.html "Power Management Integrated Circuit (PMIC) Market is projected to grow at 6.4% During 2021-2028") from Winsen an der Luhe in Lower Saxony, had gastric bypass surgery in 2011 that helped him lose 70 kg. He has since regained 25 kg, however, and is considering Wegovy alongside lifestyle changes. Without it, I would probably have to think about [changing my job](https://www.financedigest.com/great-resignation-continues-as-quarter-of-workers-look-to-change-jobs-pwc.html "‘Great Resignation’ continues as quarter of workers look to change jobs – PwC") to ease the stress level, but that would of course mean a lower income,” said Wirtz, adding that he might cancel some subscriptions to help afford the cost. Irina Ernstberger, a 66 year-old retiree, said she [considers Wegovy a fallback option](https://www.financedigest.com/cryptoverse-is-bitcoin-out-of-the-woods-consider-the-options.html "Cryptoverse: Is bitcoin out of the woods? Consider the options") after she lost weight to well below the obesity threshold with the help of Ozempic. Speaking to Reuters at her house in Munich, Ernstberger said she is on the right track, having maintained her weight for three months even after getting off Ozempic, which she paid for herself. The investment was worth it. “Sure, it costs a lot, not just the medicine itself, but also a completely new wardrobe. But buying new clothes was fun,” she said. ($1 = 0.8984 euros) (Reporting by Ludwig Burger in [Frankfurt and Maggie Fick in London](https://www.financedigest.com/analysis-frankfurt-stirs-up-euro-clearing-battle-with-london.html "Analysis-Frankfurt ‘STIRs’ up euro clearing battle with London"), Patricia Weiss in Frankfurt; Editing by Josephine Mason and Catherine Evans in London) --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---