DLNews Health by JTFMax

Insulin is a lifesaving drug. This synthetic medicine is produced by bacteria or yeast and helps regulate blood sugar levels. When the sugar levels in the blood decrease, insulin releases stored sugar in the liver. The pancreas produces several hormones. Beta cells, which are specialized in the body, produce insulin. When blood sugar level increases, the beta cells release insulin into the blood. Glucose is the primary source of energy for most cells. If there is not enough insulin, the cells will die.

In the past few years, insulin costs have increased significantly. For example, one 20-milliliter vial of insulin can cost over $1,500 today. That's more than twice the price it used to be 15 years ago.

Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, and Sanofi are the leading insulin producers in the U.S. Each company has its own program to help patients lower their prices. For example, Novo Nordisk offers the 'the$99Insulin' program, which provides patients two packs of FlexPen/FlexTouch for $99.

In February, Lilly announced that it would stop raising its insulin prices for Humalog. Last year, Lilly also began releasing its first generic insulin.

Meanwhile, the FDA has approved several generic versions of the insulins that it has previously approved. These include insulin glulisine injection, Adlyxin, and Apidra. These products are available to those with health insurance or through co-pay assistance programs. People with high deductibles or no insurance are also eligible for discounts.

There have been multiple investigations by state attorneys general into insulin-price hikes. One suit, filed by the state of California, accuses insulin manufacturers of colluding to raise prices.

According to the suit, the average patient pays $900 monthly for insulin. The lawsuit also alleges that the price of insulin has increased by 1.527% since 1997.

Many of the prominent manufacturers have unexpired patents. As a result, their intellectual property rights are protected, even if their insulin product isn't selling well. Despite these challenges, they continue to tweak their insulin products to prolong their exclusivity rights. 

Rob Bonta, California Attorney General

"For decades, big pharmaceutical companies have artificially increased the price of insulin, a lifesaving drug for over 30 million diabetics, by over 600%. It's unfair — and it's also illegal. That's why, this week, we filed a lawsuit against the largest insulin makers in the world — Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, and Sanofi — along with the nation's largest pharmacy benefit managers for breaking the law and deceiving the public when they aggressively hiked the cost of the lifesaving drug."

The lawsuit states that the insulin market in the United States is an oligopoly. It cites that the three leading manufacturers control almost 90 percent of the world's supply of insulin. This control has allowed the six companies in the industry to raise the list price of their insulin products systematically.