The house in the town of Gentofte, north of Copenhagen, was once the home of the family of Hans Christian Hagedorn, the founder of the insulin company "Nordisk". After decades of competition, the Danish company merged with its much larger rival "Novo" and today the corporation bears both names. "Novo Nordisk" purchased the old building for holding conferences and meetings.
The research of the scientist Lota Bjera Knudsen laid the foundations for the development of the weight loss drug "vego", which changed the world. The drug stimulates the pancreas to release more insulin, which helps against diabetes and, since people taking the drug feel full more quickly, also against obesity.
American supermarkets claim to sell slightly fewer calories since the drug was released. Airlines even hope to use less fuel because passengers will weigh less. Meanwhile, dialysis providers fear for their business because patients may not need to clean their blood as often.
Lote Bjere Knudsen, born in 1964, studied biotechnology and has been working for the Danish pharmaceutical company “Novo Nordisk” since 1989, including many years of drug research and development. She is particularly interested in the use of the peptide hormone GLP-1 in the fight against obesity. She received her PhD in Medical Sciences from the University of Copenhagen in 2014 and was an Associate Professor of Translational Medicine at Aarhus University from 2015 to 2020.
She made Novo Nordisk the most valuable European company, with a larger market capitalization than Daimler, Bayer, Lufthansa and BMW combined, writes the German weekly Spiegel.
Asked if she has financial benefit from it, she said: "Money is not that important to me, I am a socialist. Here in Scandinavia, we teach children teamwork from an early age. It's not about the individual. I'm like that too. I have never asked for a raise in 34 years".
She said that her earnings did increase, but that she was not the one who exerted the pressure.
"I don't see capitalism and money making people happy. At Novo Nordisk, I always preferred to use my reputation to ask for more funding for science, rather than a higher salary for myself," she said in an interview for "Spiegel".
Money is not that important to me, I am a socialist. Here in Scandinavia, we teach children teamwork from an early age. It's not about the individual. I'm like that too. I have never asked for a raise in 34 years
Knudsen developed what is called a GLP-1 receptor antagonist for the treatment of morbid obesity: liraglutide. That antagonist is the active ingredient in slimming drugs. For diabetics, "Novo Nordisk" currently markets the antagonist semaglutide under the name "ozempik" - also as "vegs" for obesity. With a market capitalization of more than 400 billion euros, this Danish company now has a market value greater than the current estimated gross domestic product of Denmark, according to Spiegel.
"Walmart" sells fewer pizzas
When asked when she realized that she had created an active ingredient that would cause a revolution as an injection for weight loss, the scientist answered:
"I always secretly hoped for that outcome. I was less surprised that it became a weight loss drug. In conversations with obese patients, I often heard how stressful it is to be hungry all the time. These people can now lead a more normal life”.
The German weekly reports that Walmart is now apparently selling fewer frozen pizzas because of her research. Knudsen points out that she is glad if that is the case and that she is happy that she worked on something important for many people.
“But I try not to think too much about it. I'm more interested in what else I can do. However, I really like to track what the drug is doing financially for the company. That is my argument for getting new funding for research”.
Insulin was the main product of the Danish company for a hundred years. Until the 1970s, when it was produced synthetically, it was made from waste from slaughterhouses. "Ozempik" and "vegovi" now account for more than 50 percent of the company's revenue. In the third quarter of 2023 alone, the company made an operating profit of over three billion euros.
Regarding the moral aspects of her invention, such as the question of whether people in the future will have to explain more why they are obese despite the existence of an injection, Knudsen says she is more interested in the general question of why obesity should be treated.
"Because if you do, you significantly reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. It is extremely valuable for people”.
However, the drug is expensive and is not covered by health insurance in many countries.
I really like to follow what the drug brings to the company financially. That's my argument for getting new research funding
In response to "Spiegel's" statement that being poor means being fat will continue to apply, Knudsen said:
"I try not to worry too much about the price because it's about complex decisions. It always takes some time for a new drug to reach the general population".
Serious consequences for diabetics
The global demand for the drug is huge, with serious consequences for diabetics. They depend on drugs that are now regularly sold out in pharmacies. The German Federal Institute for Medicines and Medical Devices is already considering banning the export of "ozempik" from Germany.
Back in 1997, Knudsen invented the first drug for weight loss, liraglutide. However, there was no euphoria then.
She thinks it's related to weight loss. With liraglutide, the average weight loss per person was eight percent, and with semaglutide 17 percent.
“When we sought approval for liraglutide in the treatment of obesity in 2014, it was the first time, and we did a lot of preparatory work around why we should even consider treating obesity with drugs. People really didn't think it was important. When difficulties arose in pharmaceutical research, for example when the treatment of diabetes was switched from injections to pills, many companies withdrew from the fight against obesity”.
Knudsen said she also faced resistance within the company, but that she continued the research because she was motivated by the unmet need for obesity treatment and the prospects in the field.
"Also, a stroke in my immediate family a few years ago further motivated me to continue looking for ways to prevent serious illnesses."
Knudsen said her company is also investigating the hypothesis of semaglutide's effectiveness against Alzheimer's disease. She pointed out that the data is phenomenal when it comes to use against heart failure because GLP-1 drugs also dampen inflammatory processes in the body.
Euphoria on social networks
On social media, many celebrities are currently celebrating semaglutide for its weight loss effect. American influencer Kim Kardashian swears by the drug, and pop star Robbie Williams recently revealed to The Times how he lost weight: "Darling, I use Ozempik."
Commenting on TikTok and Instagram influencers promoting the prescription drug, Knudsen said she always tells people to consult their doctor.
"Each drug has its side effects, so you should ask your doctor. But I think it's fine for people to exchange ideas about it, as long as they follow their country's rules. They do the same with drugs to lower blood pressure."
Lotte Bjere Knudsen faced resistance in her company for research that would later become big news around the world
When reminded that only a few influencers deal with stress medication and that entrepreneur Elon Musk has promoted "fasting" and "vegs", Knudsen said:
"My husband drives a Tesla, so Elon Musk is definitely close to me. Joking aside: As a researcher, I shouldn't have worried too much about social media euphoria. I only use Facebook to keep in touch with my family and neighbors. I have an Instagram account - but only for food”.
The scientist says she loves food, but that also means she has to restrain herself.
“I'm experimenting with intermittent fasting. That means I don't eat anything before 11 or 12, and then only for eight hours. I'm not doing it to lose weight, but to be able to eat without thinking too much: even a delicious cake shared at meetings. But fasting showed me how difficult it can be to control my appetite and say no. Because it is often not true when obese people are told that it is their fault that they are fat. This is where genetics and biology meet modern, rich society".
Side effects
In the past, obesity was difficult to control medically. Previous slimming products have been withdrawn from the market. Semaglutide also has side effects. One German authority even warned of the risk of cancer. The possible long-term effects are not clear. However, "Novo Nordisk" pays its employees and their spouses prescriptions for "vegs", which cost hundreds of euros every month.
Knudsen does not agree that injections give people permission to eat whatever they want.
"Such a lifestyle is certainly not healthy. And in this regard, the injection for weight loss does not help. When asked about their use, I like to say, “If you want the luxury of old age, then you need to take care of yourself. I don't mean taking our medicine".
The revolutionary drug has some serious side effects, including increased risk of thyroid cancer and pancreatitis, muscle atrophy, and suspected increased suicide rates.
Researchers announced Friday that a large study in the United States found no evidence that taking ozempic and veggie increases suicidal thoughts.
Knudsen said that they conducted many studies to prove the safety of the drug.
“However, all drugs have side effects. With GLP-1 drugs, it is most often nausea and malaise".
There are reports that Novo Nordisk has invited American doctors who would potentially prescribe semaglutide to attendees of expensive obesity seminars. And Swedish doctors allegedly receive high fees for consulting work. When asked if this was ethical, Knudsen replied:
“I think it's okay to pay someone for their time. Of course, if we didn't follow the rules, it wouldn't be right. But we are intensively trained in how to communicate with doctors and decision makers. Fortunately, it is not the researcher's job to deal with that”.
"Spiegel" writes that the fight for market share in GLP-1 products is in full swing. "Eli Lilly", an American company that is traditionally the biggest competitor of "Novo Nordisk", is waiting for the approval of a drug for weight loss in Europe, based on a mechanism similar to that of "vegovi".
The drug "zepbound" supposedly works a little better against obesity. Both companies are currently investing billions of euros in expanding production in Europe. "Novo Nordisk", for example, in one of its most important plants in Kalundborg, Denmark, and "Eli Lili" in Alcaj, Germany.
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