Rerun: Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen CEO of Novo Nordisk
Jul 24, 2024
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CEO of Novo Nordisk discusses concerns about medicine access in Europe and the importance of purpose. Topics include obesity, childhood obesity challenges, drug development, corporate cultural differences, and longevity in leadership.
Obesity is recognized as a disease influenced by genetics, necessitating effective medications for treatment.
Global obesity is a universal issue affected by socioeconomic factors, societal structures, and easy access to unhealthy food.
Deep dives
Obesity is a Recognized Disease with Genetic and Lifestyle Factors
Obesity has tripled since 1975, with over 1 billion obese individuals globally. While often attributed to lifestyle choices, it is now recognized as a disease influenced by genetics. Novo Nordisk's research has shown that different people face varied physiological challenges, making traditional weight management difficult, thereby highlighting the necessity for effective medications in combating obesity.
Global Impact of Obesity and Societal Structures
The rise in global population, longer life expectancy, and changes in wealth distribution have contributed to obesity becoming a universal issue affecting both developed and developing nations. Socioeconomic factors, societal structures, and easy access to unhealthy food highlight the complexity of addressing obesity on a global scale.
Childhood Obesity as a Growing Concern
Childhood obesity is a critical concern as it significantly impacts lifelong health and socioeconomic status. Prevention strategies implemented within school systems and societal frameworks play a pivotal role in mitigating childhood obesity, aiming to reduce long-term health and economic burdens.
Pharmaceutical Innovations Addressing Obesity
Novo Nordisk's pharmaceutical advancements in treating obesity have shown promising results with weight reduction ranging from 16% to over 20%. Their novel drugs, focusing on reducing appetite and aiding weight loss, have reshaped the obesity treatment landscape, offering hope to individuals struggling with weight management.
“I'm very concerned that European citizens will have lack of access or much lower access to some of the new medicines” says CEO of Novo Nordisk. He also share some interesting perspectives about the importance of purpose and their new weight loss drug.
The production team on this episode were PLAN-B’s Niklas Figenschau Johansen and Nikolai Ovenberg. Background research was done by Sigurd Brekke with input from portfolio manager Gemma Game.