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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Business
Shanti Das and Jon Ungoed-Thomas

Revealed: obesity jab maker discussed targeting benefit claimants with UK government

A box of Wegovy with an injection pen on top
Novo Nordisk’s weight-loss drug Wegovy has been approved for use on the NHS. Photograph: Reuters

Obesity jab maker Novo Nordisk suggested to senior government officials that they could “profile” benefit claimants so that those most likely to return to work could be targeted with its weight-loss injections.

Internal documents obtained by the Observer reveal that Pinder Sahota, corporate vice-president of Novo Nordisk UK, told the then health secretary Steve Barclay, England’s chief medical officer and Treasury officials that “data from the Department for Work and Pensions [DWP] could help profile those who are most likely to return to the labour market”.

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