Wegovy maker Novo Nordisk sponsored British pharmacies in pursuit of sales | Pharmaceuticals industry [Video]

Big PharmaS Push: How Novo Nordisk’s Sponsorships Blur the Lines of Ethical Drug Marketing

Novo Nordisk, the pharmaceutical giant behind popular weight-loss drugs Wegovy and Saxenda, is facing mounting criticism over its controversial sponsorship deals with UK pharmacies. Critics argue these arrangements represent a blatant conflict of interest and raise serious concerns about the company’s undue influence over prescribing practices.

the Danish company has provided considerable funding to pharmacies like Boots and Lloyds, covering expenses for Google ads, staff training, and patient data materials. In return, Novo Nordisk receives detailed reports on website traffic, advertising effectiveness, and, crucially, prescription numbers for its weight-loss medications.

One particularly troubling sponsorship involved a £30,000 payment to a pharmacy chain that was later found to have violated rules prohibiting the advertising of prescription-only drugs.

Dr. margaret McCartney, a GP and senior lecturer at the University of St Andrews specializing in healthcare conflicts of interest, …