Eli Lilly

Pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly is cutting the cost of insulin. NPR's Steve Inskeep asks Stacie Dusetzina of Vanderbilt University Medical Center about the ...

The price of the medication has become a political issue as diabetics have struggled to afford the lifesaving drug.

Congressional Democrats and the administration tried to pass such a measure last year, but the final version applies only to people on Medicare, the health insurance program for seniors. Ricks said Wednesday that those comments referred to a rebate program the company offered that allowed certain people with commercial insurance to get a coupon. People with diabetes have a chronic insulin deficiency and typically take regular injections to stay healthy. Biden has singled out insulin as a cost that needs to be brought under control. “Last year, I signed a law to cap insulin at $35 for seniors and I called on pharma companies to bring prices down for everyone on their own. [rolled out](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/novo-nordisk-launching-additional-us-insulin-affordability-offerings-in-january-2020-300913167.html) a $99 cash card program along with 50 price reductions on some of its branded products. The company’s nonbranded insulin, Insulin Lispro Injection, will drop from $82.41 to $25 per vial, making it the lowest-priced mealtime insulin available, according to the company. David Ricks, Lilly’s chief executive, acknowledged in an interview that the company could have taken this action sooner. “We need to double and triple check to make sure that this insulin stays stocked in drugstores,” she added. “We’re enjoying this victory but there’s still work to do,” said Sa’Ra Skipper, an insulin-for-all advocate in Indianapolis who has Type 1 diabetes. Lilly’s action could cascade through the health-care system and bring down costs more broadly, experts say. Last year’s Inflation Reduction Act capped insulin costs for seniors with Medicare beginning in January.

The moves announced Wednesday promise critical relief to some people with diabetes who can face annual costs of more than $1000 for insulin they need in ...

became the first company to commercialize insulin in 1923, two years after University of Toronto scientists discovered it. Drugmakers also may face competition from companies like the nonprofit Civica, which plans to produce three insulins at a recommended price of no more than $30 a vial, a spokeswoman said. They rang up more than $3.5 billion the year before that. Indianapolis-based Eli Lilly and Co. The drugmaker didn't detail what the new prices would be. Lilly's changes also come as lawmakers and patient advocates pressure drugmakers to do something about soaring prices.

The price of generic insulin lispro, which is the same product as Humalog, will drop May 1 to $25 a vial, which Lilly says is less than Humalog cost in 1999.

Many Republicans view such a move as interfering with the market. "We'd like to see that applied to commercial markets ... Humalog and the generic version are rapid insulins used to control high blood sugar in adults and children with type 1 and 2 diabetes. We're making that choice today." [didn't extend the cap to the private market](https://www.axios.com/2022/11/18/time-running-out-on-insulin-cost-caps). [study](https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M22-2477) in the Annals of Internal Medicine, [Axios' Oriana Gonzalez writes](https://www.axios.com/2022/10/18/insulin-rationing-prices-study).

Eli Lilly will cut prices for some older insulins later this year and immediately expand a limit on costs insured patients pay when they fill prescriptions.

became the first company to commercialize insulin in 1923, two years after University of Toronto scientists discovered it. The state of California has said it plans to explore making its own cheaper insulin. They rang up more than $3.5 billion the year before that. Indianapolis-based Eli Lilly and Co. “We know the current U.S. Lilly’s changes also come as lawmakers and patient advocates pressure drugmakers to do something about soaring prices. He noted that discounts Lilly offers from its list prices often don’t reach patients through insurers or pharmacy benefit managers. Ricks said that Lilly made the changes announced Wednesday “because it’s time and it’s the right thing to do.” We regret the error. Lilly also said Wednesday that it will cut the price of its authorized generic version of Humalog to $25 a vial starting in May. health care system has gaps,” he said. Ricks said that it will take time for insurers and the pharmacy system to implement its price cuts, so the drugmaker will immediately cap monthly out-of-pocket costs at $35 for people who are not covered by Medicare’s prescription drug program.