Office of Medical Communications

Clara Keegan, M.D., associate professor of family medicine

(APRIL 26, 2024) Interviewed by WCAX-TV, Clara Keegan, M.D., associate professor of family medicine, weighed in on the pricing and availability of two drugs that are highly effective at treating diabetes and obesity but now carry steep price tags.

When Ozempic and Wegovy were first put on the market, many people thought it was groundbreaking, including Keegan, a primary care doctor at the UVM Medical Center. “What’s amazing about them is that they change the metabolism in a way we haven’t seen before,” she said.

Keegan says she hasn’t been able to prescribe the drugs for months due to shortages and supply chain issues. The category of weight loss drugs also can cost patients $1,000 a month. But a study from Yale University released last month shows they can be made for less than $5.

As rates of obesity and diabetes continue to rise, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders this week launched an investigation into the pricing of Ozempic and Wegovy. This comes as state officials and lawmakers weigh whether to expand Medicaid coverage that includes their prescription.