All three of
the major insulin manufacturers (Eli Lilly, Sanofi and Novo Nordisk) have
finally announced plans to lower their insulin prices amid mounting criticism
over their high costs in the United States and patients’ demands for lower cost
options. To date, the manufacturers have put the blame on PBMs by pointing to
declines in their products’ realized price, despite significant list-price
increases.
Novo Nordisk is
the last one to join Eli Lilly and Sanofi in making a cost-cutting move on
their insulin products. On September 6th,
the Danish company announced that it will offer
authorized generics of its Novolog brands at a 50 percent discount from their
originators.
Novo will also
offer a $99 cash card program. Regardless of insurance status, patients can buy
3 vials or 2-packs of any Novolog FlexPen or FlexTouch product. This should
cover a one month supply for most patients. These programs will launch in
January 2020.
Lilly’s generic
Humalog product is half the price of the brand; they unveiled it in March 2019.
Lantus maker Sanofi soon followed suit in April by expanding the
Insulin Valyou Savings Program, which lowers the cost of its insulin products
to $99 per month.
In 2018 10.1 percent of
adults aged 18 and over had diagnosed diabetes. The
National Center for Health Statistics published a survey in August 2019: “Strategies
used by Adults with Diagnosed Diabetes to Reduce their Prescription Drug Costs,
2017-2018”.
Of significance is that 14.9
percent of women and 11.6 percent of men were more likely to not take their
medication as prescribed to reduce their prescription drug costs. Among adults diagnosed with diabetes in the
past twelve months, 13.2 percent did not take their medication as prescribed
and 24.4 percent asked their doctor for a lower cost medication. Those under age 65 were more
likely to take their medication as prescribed and ask their doctor for a lower
cost medication as compared to adults over age 65.
The percentage of adults who
asked their doctor for a lower cost alternative was highest among those with
private insurance, Medicare Advantage or Medicare only. Those with Medicare and
Medicaid coverage were less likely to ask their doctor for a lower cost
alternative.
