A 13-minute segment from a recent episode of CBS 60 minutes What appeared to be a news story about Novo Nordisk’s weight-loss drug Wegovy was actually a sponsored promotion that violated federal regulations, according to the Physicians Commission, a nonprofit public health advocacy group.
The group filed a complaint with the Food and Drug Administration last week, claiming the segment aired on January 1 violated the FDA’s “fair balance” requirement. and a fair balance of benefits.
Physician Board of CBS 60 minutes Only professionals who had received advertising fees from Novo Nordisk prior to press coverage and who were also paid by Novo Nordisk were included in the segment broadcast. The segment praised the drug with words and phrases like “very effective,” “safe,” “impressive,” “great,” and “robust,” but delved into side effects, alternative treatments and weight loss strategies. did not.
“The 60 Minutes show looked like a news story, but was, in effect, a drug ad,” said Neil Barnard, an adjunct professor at the George Washington University School of Medicine and chairman of the Medical Board, in a statement. There are a variety of potential risks and side effects not mentioned in the CBS report, including system problems, increased heart rate, gallstones, pancreatitis, and severely lowered blood sugar levels. It poses a risk to those who could.
The group wants all CBS Wegovy-related articles (there are four of them) to be plucked from the website and replaced with “corrective ads” containing risks and side effects.
In a statement to the press, Novo Nordisk said:
Novo Nordisk did not provide any payment or sponsorship to CBS. 60 minutes .
