Insulin for All? How Recent Developments Impact Insulin Affordability

Among all the spectacular breakthroughs and discoveries to occur in medicine within the last century, few, if any, have had as profound of an impact on the lives of patients as the discovery of insulin in 1921—transforming diabetes from a certain death sentence to a chronic, but manageable health condition.

Now, as the community celebrates the 100-year anniversary of the achievement, discussion around insulin is often centered around affordability for patients. Despite the rising cost of insulin having been in the spotlight for years, the fight to improve affordability of insulin is one that has been characterized by a lack of attainable solutions.

However, recent developments have some suggesting the long-awaited shift towards greater affordability may be coming sooner rather than later. In June 2021, Walmart announced plans to partner with Novo Nordisk to launch the first private brand analog insulin. In August 2021, the US Food and Drug Administration granted its approval for an interchangeable biosimilar product in insulin glargine-yfgn (Semglee), which is approved for improving glycemic control in adults and pediatric patients with type 1 diabetes and in adults with type 2 diabetes.

In light of these developments and considering their timing with the 100-year anniversary of the discovery of insulin, Endocrinology Network reached out to Diana Isaacs, PharmD, and Lucia Novak, CRNP, to host a conversation centered around these topics. That conversation is the subject of this 3-part video series titled: “Insulin for All? How Recent Developments Impact Insulin Affordability”.

Editor’s Note: Check back throughout the week as additional segments are posted.

1. How Walmart and Novo Nordisk's Insulin Initiative Impacts Insulin Affordability, with Diana Isaacs, PharmD, and Lucia Novak, CRNP
   Experts discuss how the launch of ReliOn NovoLog and the involvement of corporate entities could impact insulin affordability in both short- and long-term diabetes management.
2. How the Approval of Semglee Impacts Insulin Affordability, With Diana Isaacs, PharmD, and Lucia Novak, CRNP
   Experts offer perspective on how the interchangeable biosimilar approval of Semglee impacts the cost of insulin and what they think is important for patients, providers, and pharmacists to know about the historic FDA approval.
3. Insulin for All or Insulin for Some? Turning Points for Insulin Affordability, With Diana Isaacs, PharmD, and Lucia Novak, CRNP
   The final installment in our series, Isaacs and Novak discuss how recent developments impact the cost of insulin and whether "Insulin for All" is a meaningful phrase or wishful thinking.