Novo Nordisk CEO Talks Obesity Drugs, Philanthropy

Novo Nordisk is Europe’s most valuable company with booming demand for its blockbuster diabetes and obesity drugs, Ozempic and Wegovy. They’re revolutionizing the weight loss drug industry, with some analysts predicting it could be worth up to $150 billion a year. Elon Musk, Sharon Osborne and Chelsea Handler have all publicly talked about taking Ozempic or Wegovy, and they've had further backing from Oprah Winfrey. The success has also propelled the company's philanthropic foundation to become the world's largest, with more than double the assets of the Gates Foundation. But it's not without controversy, including possible side effects and high prices, with US Senator Bernie Sanders pressing the company to lower the cost of Wegovy. On the latest episode of Leaders with Lacqua, Francine Lacqua travels to the firm’s headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark. She speaks to chief executive, Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.