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Senior Co-op staff complain of ‘toxic’ culture at the top
A spokesman for the Co-op told the BBC: “Our culture, as a co-operative, ensured decision-making throughout has listened to views from leaders and colleagues across our food and wider business, whilst simultaneously acknowledging when a wide range of views are expressed, not everybody will always agree with the final decisions and actions taken.”
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Novo Nordisk CEO sees 15 million-patient opportunity in Medicare coverage for obesity drugs
Novo Nordisk CEO Mike Doustdar on Wednesday said the company is aiming to capture around 15 million new patients, at least initially, when Medicare starts covering obesity treatments for the first time later this year.
Around 67 million Americans are covered by Medicare, but “when you take a look at specifically our products and the target group, I think around 15 million people would be a good number to target,” he told CNBC in an interview.
Medicare is slated to start covering obesity medicines for the first time later this year under the landmark “most favored nation” drug pricing deals that Novo and its chief rival Eli Lilly struck with President Donald Trump in November.
Health experts say the long-awaited coverage could broaden the market for the medicines and spur more private insurers to cover them. Some experts estimate that 20 million to 30 million Medicare patients are suffering from obesity and related conditions.
Doustdar said Medicare coverage, along with the launch of Novo’s new obesity pill and other factors, should help the company gradually boost prescription volumes and offset lower prices in the U.S. following that agreement with Trump.
But he said he doesn’t expect Medicare access to obesity treatments to open up overnight.
“Now, it would be great if we could find a way to get access very, very fast. But I think that would be a bit naive,” Doustdar said, pointing to the slow adoption seen among eligible patients with commercial insurance.
It’s a slightly more conservative tone on the initial impact of Medicare coverage compared to Lilly, which has cited that coverage as a key tailwind to its guidance this year. Last week, Lilly said it expects Medicare coverage to come online by July.
Meanwhile, Doustdar said Novo is in the midst of negotiations with the government on “exactly which month, which week that is going to be opening.”
Closing the market share gap
Novo is under pressure to claw back market share in the booming GLP-1 space from Lilly and cheaper, compounded copycats. Last week, Lilly said its share of the U.S. obesity and diabetes drug market increased to 60.5% in the fourth quarter, while Novo’s was 39.1%.
Novo has also highlighted a gap in the “preference share” for its weight loss treatment Wegovy versus Lilly’s rival injections. In the U.S., Novo estimates that between 7 and 8 patients out of 10 go to Lilly.
When asked how Novo plans to close that gap, Doustdar said one way to do so is “to do better on the pill.” The company’s Wegovy obesity pill has a head start compared to Lilly’s upcoming oral drug, orforglipron, which is expected to win approval from the Food and Drug Administration during the second quarter.
Mike Doustdar, left, CEO of Novo Nordisk, and David Ricks, CEO of Eli Lilly, listen as President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office during an event about weight-loss drugs on Nov. 6, 2025.
Andrew Caballero-Reynolds | Afp | Getty Images
Doustdar said Novo’s pill is slightly more effective than Lilly’s based on separate clinical trials, showing 16.6% weight loss compared to 12.4% with Lilly’s oral drug.
“If you use these two numbers, basically you have a 40% difference between the efficacy of these pills,” he said. “I think this is going to be a very main, main selling point of the pill.”
But Doustdar also pointed to the upcoming approval and launch of a higher dose – 7.2 milligram – of Wegovy that could help win market share from Lilly’s obesity treatment Zepbound.
That higher dose helps patients lose around 21% of their weight, which is “very much on par” with the highest dose of Zepbound, he said. Zepbound’s higher efficacy has been a key factor in driving more patients and prescribers away from choosing Wegovy, which has shown around 15% weight loss on average in clinical trials.
“When that comes to the market, my thought, my wish, my hope is that people will realize, OK, now we have two products with similar efficacy,” he said.
Charles Brohiri travelled without buying a ticket on 112 train journeys over a period of nearly two years.
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Toyota Fortuner Legender Beware! MG Majestor unveil tomorrow – Expected price, features and more
2026 MG Majestor: JSW MG Motor India is set to unveil the MG Majestor SUV tomorrow, February 12, 2026. The SUV was first showcased at the 2025 Bharat Mobility Expo. It is based on the Gloster but comes with major updates. MG will position the Majestor above the Gloster as a more premium offering. It is expected to rival the Toyota Fortuner Legender.
Expected price
MG is expected to reveal full details, including features, specifications, and variant options. However, official pricing may come later in March. Pre-bookings are expected to open soon after the unveil. Prices are likely to start from around Rs 40 lakh (ex-showroom).
Expected engine
Under the hood, the Majestor is likely to use a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine. The 4×2 version may produce 163 hp and 375 Nm of torque. The 4×4 version is expected to offer higher outputs of 218 hp and 480 Nm. It may also come with three differential locks. Drivers could get dedicated switches for 2WD, 4WD, and low-range 4WD modes.
D+ segment
MG claims the Majestor will be the longest, widest, and tallest in its segment. The company says it will create a new D+ segment above regular D-segment SUVs in India.
Design
In terms of design, the Majestor will get a bold Matrix-style grille. Falcon-inspired LED daytime running lights and split headlamps add a sharp look. The side profile will feature large 19-inch alloy wheels. At the rear, it is expected to get connected LED taillights and a redesigned bumper for a more modern feel.
Cabin and features
Interior details are still under wraps. However, the SUV is likely to offer dual-tone upholstery, a fully digital instrument cluster, and a larger floating touchscreen. Other expected features include a wireless charger, panoramic sunroof, Level 2 ADAS, three-zone climate control, and powered, ventilated, and heated front seats.
Novo Nordisk CEO sees 15 million-patient opportunity in Medicare coverage for obesity drugs
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