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`How Much Does Insulin Cost? Here's How 23 Brands Compare - GoodRx
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`https://www.goodrx.com/blog/how-much-does-insulin-cost-compare-brands/
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`How Much Does Insulin Cost? Here’s How 23 Brands Compare
`espite outrage over the high cost of insulin, prices for popular insulin treatments
`have continued to climb in 2019, according to a GoodRx analysis of drug prices.
`Though prices are not climbing as quickly as they did between 2002 and 2013—when
`the average cost of insulin therapy nearly
`tripled—the average price* of insulin has
`increased by 55% since the rst quarter of 2014.
`The analysis also shows that price increases this year a ected a select group of insulins: mainly long-acting
`insulins, those that control blood sugar throughout the day, and Afrezza, the inhaled, ultra-rapid-acting insulin
`made by MannKind.
`The average retail price for Afrezza has gone up by 8% since the fourth quarter of last year. And average retail
`prices for long-acting insulins made by Sano -Aventis and Novo Nordisk increased by as much as 6% during
`the same period, calling into question the pledges these manufacturers made to help rein in insulin prices. In
`2017, Sano -Aventis had vowed to limit annual price increases to a rate below medical in ation (e ectively
`5.4%). And Novo Nordisk promised just months before to cap annual price increases to single-digit
`percentages.
`Benita Lee
`Benita Lee, MPH, is on the Research team at GoodRx.
`Posted on August 23, 2019
`
`
`9/12/2019
`
`How Much Does Insulin Cost? Here's How 23 Brands Compare - GoodRx
`
`https://www.goodrx.com/blog/how-much-does-insulin-cost-compare-brands/
`
`2/11
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`The analysis on 23 insulins across manufacturers and insulin types—short-, intermediate-, rapid- and long-
`acting—shows that manufacturers are still raising insulin prices, and costs now vary by as much as 10 times
`depending on which insulin you take. Here, we’ll walk you through how each insulin stacks up and how you can
`get the best deal on these life-saving medications.
`– – –
`This GoodRx analysis is based on a representative sample of U.S. prescription lls (not GoodRx lls) and
`comes from several sources, including pharmacies and insurers. The reported prices per insulin unit are based
`on cash prices, the so-called “usual and customary” prices or retail prices at the pharmacy (not including
`insurance copays or co-insurance).
`A note about insulin use:
`One insulin unit can be de ned as the amount of insulin it takes to
`lower blood glucose by 50 mg/dL, although
`each individual’s response is highly variable. Someone with type 2 diabetes may start with 1 unit of insulin per 1
`kg to 2 kg of bodyweight per day, which equates to about 40 units of insulin per day for a 70 kg person.
`People with type 2 diabetes are o en treated without insulin—or perhaps one type of intermediate- or long-
`acting insulin—as type 2 diabetes is a disease where the body is resistant to insulin’s e ects. For those with
`type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune disorder that kills pancreatic cells that make insulin, more insulin of di erent
`types is needed. It’s common, for example, for a person with type 1 diabetes to use both a mealtime (rapid- or
`short-acting) insulin along with a basal (intermediate- or long-acting) insulin.
`– – –
`
`
`9/12/2019
`
`How Much Does Insulin Cost? Here's How 23 Brands Compare - GoodRx
`
`https://www.goodrx.com/blog/how-much-does-insulin-cost-compare-brands/
`
`3/11
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`How do insulin prices compare today?
`1) Traditional insulins are cheaper than modern insulins
`Average retail prices of Novolin and Humulin (traditional short- and intermediate-acting insulins) have gone
`down, while prices of modern rapid- and long-acting insulins continue to go up. On average, traditional insulins
`now cost less than half of what modern insulins cost.
`Why? Understandably, traditional insulins have always been cheaper than their newer competitors. Modern
`insulins o er be er blood sugar control but are synthetic analogs of traditional insulins, which makes them
`more di cult to produce.
`Additionally, when patents on Humulin and Novolin expired around 2000, manufacturers Eli Lilly and Novo
`Nordisk had to test new pricing strategies to remain competitive.
`In 2017, for example, Novo Nordisk partnered with CVS to o er Novolin at roughly 80% less than its normal list
`price. Both Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly have also worked with Walmart to heavily discount Novolin and Humulin
`under Walmart’s ReliOn line of insulin products.
`Retail partnerships haven’t been their only strategy. In May 2017, Eli Lilly broke from their routine of increasing
`Humulin prices every 6 months and has since le prices alone. In fact, prices of traditional Humulin and
`Novolin insulins, their rapid-acting analogs ( Humalog
` and Novolog
`), and their mixed products (e.g.,
`Humulin 70/30, Novolog 70/30) have not gone up since then.
`
`
`9/12/2019
`
`How Much Does Insulin Cost? Here's How 23 Brands Compare - GoodRx
`
`https://www.goodrx.com/blog/how-much-does-insulin-cost-compare-brands/
`
`4/11
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`Novolin R
` and Novolin N
` are currently the cheapest traditional insulins, by as much as 77%
`compared to other options.
`Retail Prices of Traditional Insulins (Q2 2019)
`Price per dispenser
`Price per insulin unit
`Regular insulin
`Novolin R vial (10 mL)
`$93 per vial
`$0.09 per unit
`Humulin R vial (10 mL)
`$185 per vial
`$0.19 per unit
`Humulin R vial (20 mL, 500 units/mL)
`$1,813 per vial
`$0.18 per unit
`Humulin R KwikPen (3 mL, 500 units/mL)
`$352 per pen
`$0.23 per unit
`NPH insulin
`Novolin N vial (10 mL)
`$92 per vial
`$0.09 per unit
`Humulin N vial (10 mL)
`$183 per vial
`$0.18 per unit
`Humulin N KwikPen (3 mL)
`$117 per pen
`$0.39 per unit
`*Insulin concentrations are 100 units/mL unless otherwise stated.
`2) Vials are cheaper than newer dispensers
`In 1985, Novo Nordisk introduced the rst insulin pen, making it more convenient for patients to store and self-
`inject insulin—but it came at a price. Today, retail prices of rapid-acting insulins are about 30% higher if you
`opt for pens instead of vials. This trend isn’t just relevant to rapid-acting insulins; the average retail price of
`Humulin N
`, for example, more than doubles if you choose to use a KwikPen instead of a vial.
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`
`
`9/12/2019
`
`How Much Does Insulin Cost? Here's How 23 Brands Compare - GoodRx
`
`https://www.goodrx.com/blog/how-much-does-insulin-cost-compare-brands/
`
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`New dispensers make insulin more expensive. We’re seeing that again with Afrezza
`, the only insulin to be
`delivered as an inhalable powder. One unit of Afrezza’s insulin can cost as much as 6 times the price of other
`rapid-acting insulins. (Afrezza’s manufacturer, MannKind, o ers the medication at reduced costs through its
`direct purchase program.)
`Retail Prices of Rapid-Acting Insulins (Q2 2019)
`Price per dispenser
`Price per insulin unit
`Insulin lispro
`Generic insulin lispro vial vial (10 mL)
`$180 per vial
`$0.18 per unit
`Generic insulin lispro KwikPen (3 mL)
`$72 per pen
`$0.24 per unit
`Admelog vial (10 mL)
`$291 per vial
`$0.29 per unit
`Admelog SoloStar pen (3 mL)
`$187 per pen
`$0.37 per unit
`Humalog vial (10 mL)
`$332 per vial
`$0.33 per unit
`Humalog KwikPen (3 mL)
`$133 per pen
`$0.44 per unit
`Humalog KwikPen (3 mL, 200 units/mL)
`$264 per pen
`$0.44 per unit
`Humalog cartridge (3 mL)
`$132 per cartridge
`$0.44 per unit
`Humalog junior KwikPen (3 mL)
`$129 per pen
`$0.43 per unit
`
`
`9/12/2019
`
`How Much Does Insulin Cost? Here's How 23 Brands Compare - GoodRx
`
`https://www.goodrx.com/blog/how-much-does-insulin-cost-compare-brands/
`
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`Price per dispenser
`Price per insulin unit
`Insulin aspart
`Novolog vial (10 mL)
`$351 per vial
`$0.35 per unit
`Novolog FlexPen (3 mL)
`$134 per pen
`$0.45 per unit
`Novolog cartridge (3 mL)
`$130 per cartridge
`$0.47 per unit
`Fiasp vial (10 mL)
`$348 per vial
`$0.35 per unit
`Fiasp FlexTouch pen (3 mL)
`$136 per pen
`$0.45 per unit
`Insulin glulisine
`Apidra vial (10 mL)
`$362 per vial
`$0.36 per unit
`Apidra SoloStar pen (3 mL)
`$143 per pen
`$0.48 per unit
`Inhaled insulin
`Afrezza cartridge (4 units)
`$4.42 per cartridge
`$1.11 per unit
`*Insulin concentrations are 100 units/mL unless otherwise stated.
`3) Follow-ons and generics cost less than brands
`Generic medications contain exact replicas of the active ingredients in their brand-name counterparts.
`Di erent manufacturers can copy the chemical structures of those ingredients, which allows multiple
`generics to compete in the market and lower prices. In the world of biologic medications, which are derived
`from living organisms, generics are virtually impossible to make. We call the di erent manufacturer copies of
`biologics “follow-ons,” as they only closely copy the brand-name drugs.
`Basaglar
`, a long-acting insulin approved in 2016, is the follow-on to Lantus, and Admelog
`, a rapid-
`acting insulin approved in 2017, is the follow-on to Humalog. By the end of the second quarter of 2019, the
`average retail price of Basaglar was about 20% less than Lantus on a per insulin unit basis. Similarly, Admelog’s
`average retail price was 12% to 16% less than Humalog’s, depending on the dispenser.
`By retail price alone, Basaglar is the cheapest option of the long-acting insulins. However, earlier this year,
`manufacturer Eli Lilly released a generic version of their popular rapid-acting insulin, Humalog—and that
`generic was cheaper than Admelog. If you compare prices by dispenser, generic insulin lispro was about 45%
`cheaper than Humalog in Q2.
`4) New product features can come with a high price tag
`Novelty can translate to higher prices (as we saw with Afrezza)—but not always. We recently gained 3 new
`combination insulin medications: Xultophy, Soliqua 100/33, and Fiasp. Tresiba, an ultra-long-acting insulin,
`also came to market in the last few years.
`Xultophy
` and Soliqua
` both contain a long-acting insulin and another non-insulin diabetes
`medication. Xultophy is a mix of insulin degludec plus liraglutide (the same active ingredient in Victoza
`),
`and Soliqua is a mix of insulin glargine plus lixisenatide (the same active ingredient in Adlyxin
`). Average
`
`
`9/12/2019
`
`How Much Does Insulin Cost? Here's How 23 Brands Compare - GoodRx
`
`https://www.goodrx.com/blog/how-much-does-insulin-cost-compare-brands/
`
`7/11
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`retail prices for Soliqua and Xultophy are more than double the price of cheaper alternatives like Basaglar and
`Tresiba, which have the same exact kind of insulins.
`Fiasp
` contains insulin aspart, the same insulin in Novolog, but it also has vitamin B3. This added
`ingredient may speed up insulin absorption but doesn’t necessarily make Fiasp more e ective than Novolog at
`lowering blood sugar. Interestingly, the retail prices for Fiasp and Novolog are the same on a per insulin unit
`basis.
`Then there’s Tresiba
`, an ultra-long-acting insulin that stays active for up to 42 hours. For this unique
`property, its average retail price is about $124 per 3 mL pen (100 units/mL), or 53% more than fellow long-
`acting insulin, Basaglar.
`Along with these new formulations, insulin manufacturers have also started o ering their insulins at higher
`concentrations to make them more convenient for people who need more insulin than average. Humulin R,
`Humalog, and Tresiba all come in higher-concentration versions, and Toujeo
` is a higher-concentration
`version of Lantus. At rst glance, their prices may seem high, but they actually go for the same per unit retail
`price as their lower-concentration counterparts.
`What’s next for insulin prices? At the end of 2017, long-acting insulins started to get more expensive, a er
`having enjoyed stable prices since 2015. These price increases have not stopped. As we mentioned, Novo
`Nordisk and Sano -Aventis raised their insulin prices again this year, despite promising to help rein in drug
`prices.
`
`
`9/12/2019
`
`How Much Does Insulin Cost? Here's How 23 Brands Compare - GoodRx
`
`https://www.goodrx.com/blog/how-much-does-insulin-cost-compare-brands/
`
`8/11
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`Mylan Ex.1057
`Mylan v. Sanofi - IPR2018-01675
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`But insulin lispro, the rst generic insulin, also made it to market this year, and it was released at about half the
`price of its brand counterpart, Humalog. Will this mark the beginning of more generics and price shi s as
`competition heats up? We’ll have to wait and see.
`Retail Prices of Long-Acting Insulins (Q2 2019)
`Price per dispenser
`Price per insulin unit
`Insulin detemir
`Levemir FlexTouch pen (3 mL)
`$113 per pen
`$0.38 per unit
`Levemir vial (10 mL)
`$397 per vial
`$0.40 per unit
`Insulin glargine
`Basaglar KwikPen (3 mL)
`$81 per pen
`$0.27 per unit
`Lantus vial (10 mL)
`$340 per vial
`$0.34 per unit
`Lantus SoloStar pen (3 mL)
`$168 per pen
`$0.34 per unit
`Toujeo pen (1.5 mL, 300 units/mL)
`$160 per pen
`$0.35 per unit
`Toujeo Max pen (3 mL, 300 units/mL)
`$315 per pen
`$0.35 per unit
`Soliqua 100/33 SoloStar pen (3 mL)
`$173 per pen
`$0.58 per unit
`Insulin degludec
`Tresiba vial (10 mL)
`$417 per vial
`$0.42 per unit
`Tresiba FlexTouch pen (3 mL)
`$124 per pen
`$0.41 per unit
`Tresiba FlexTouch pen (3 mL, 200 units/mL)
`$248 per pen
`$0.41 per unit
`Xultophy pen (3 mL)
`$254 per pen
`$0.85 per unit
`*Insulin concentrations are 100 units/mL unless otherwise stated.
`– – –
`Ways to save on insulin
`It’s di cult to predict where drug prices will be in the future, but if you take insulin, we hope our analysis gives
`you some ideas for how to talk to your doctor about a ordable options. Here are more ways you can save:
`Use a manufacturer savings card or patient assistance program. Major insulin manufacturers Eli Lilly,
`Novo Nordisk, Sano -Aventis, and MannKind o er copay cards and patient assistance programs for
`patients with and without insurance coverage. In many cases, these programs can reduce out-of-pocket
`costs to as li le as $0 per month. For more information, just search for your drug on goodrx.com, and
`click on “Savings Tips” for details.
`1
`Shop around. GoodRx o ers coupons on insulin drugs, which can save you as much as 50% o the full
`retail price. At goodrx.com, you can also compare insulin prices at di erent pharmacies in your area and
` nd information about discount programs at speci c pharmacies.
`2
`
`
`9/12/2019
`
`How Much Does Insulin Cost? Here's How 23 Brands Compare - GoodRx
`
`As seen on:
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`https://www.goodrx.com/blog/how-much-does-insulin-cost-compare-brands/
`
`9/11
`
`Mylan Ex.1057
`Mylan v. Sanofi - IPR2018-01675
`
`Co-contributors: Diane Li, Jeroen van Me gaard, PhD, and Clement B. Feyt, MPH
`Drugs featured in this story
`Filed under
`Related Posts
`Appeal your coverage. If you have insurance and your plan doesn’t cover the insulin you need, ask your
`doctor about submi ing an appeal. Your insurance company may require a
`prior authorization or step
`therapy before you can ll your prescription, but it’s worth trying if you want to get your insulin covered.
`3
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`Adlyxin
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`Afrezza
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`Apidra
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`Prices from $561.65
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`How Much Does Insulin Cost? Here's How 23 Brands Compare - GoodRx
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`GoodRx is not sponsored by or affiliated with any of the pharmacies identified in its price comparisons. All trademarks, brands, logos and
`copyright images are property of their respective owners and rights holders and are used solely to represent the products of these rights
`holders. This information is for informational purposes only and is not meant to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis
`or treatment. GoodRx is not offering advice, recommending or endorsing any specific prescription drug, pharmacy or other information on
`the site. GoodRx provides no warranty for any of the pricing data or other information. Please seek medical advice before starting,
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`https://www.goodrx.com/blog/how-much-does-insulin-cost-compare-brands/
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`How Much Does Insulin Cost? Here's How 23 Brands Compare - GoodRx
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`https://www.goodrx.com/blog/how-much-does-insulin-cost-compare-brands/
`
`11/11
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`Mylan Ex.1057
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