Novo Nordisk Lowers Insulin Price for Up to 75% for Individuals With Diabetes

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Novo Nordisk Inc has announced that it is lowering the United States list prices for several insulin products by up to 75% for individuals with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.¹

The products include pre-filled pens, vials of basal, vials of bolus, and pre-mix insulins. This will specifically include Levemir (insulin determir), Novolin (human insulin isophane suspension injection (recombinant DNA origin), NovoLog (insulin aspart), and NovoLog Mix 70/30 (insulin aspart protamine and insulin aspart injectable suppression).¹

“We have been working to develop a sustainable path forward that balances patient affordability, market dynamics, and evolving policy changes,” Steve Albers, senior vice president of Market Access & Public Affairs at Novo Nordisk, said in a statement. “Novo Nordisk remains committed to ensuring patients living with diabetes can afford our insulins, a responsibility we take seriously.”¹

This follows a decision by Eli Lilly and Company to reduce the price for its most commonly prescribed insulins by 70%, capping out-of-pocket patient costs at $35 or less per month.²

Novo Nordisk will also reduce the list price of unbranded biologics to match the lowered price of each respective branded insulin. The changes will be effective January 1, 2024.¹

The prices for NovoLog and Novolog Mix 70/30 will be $72.34 for the vial and $139.71 for the FlexPen. For Levemir and Novolin, it will be $107.85 and $48.20 for the vial, respectively, and $161.77 and $91.09 for the FlexPen, respectively.¹

The company will also reduce the list price of insulin aspart and insulin aspart protamine and insulin aspart to match the lowered price of each respective branded insulin.¹

Novo Nordisk also has a variety of affordability offerings for those eligible in the United States who have diabetes, which includes:¹

1. A Patient Assistance Program, which offers free diabetes medication to individuals in need and meet certain eligibility criteria.
2. Co-Pay Savings Cards, which allows eligible patients with commercial insurance plans to have co-pays between $25 and $35.
3. Immediate Supply, which is a 1-time free 30-day supply of insulin, up to 3 vials or 2 packs of pens, eligible to patients at risk of rationing.
4. My$99Insulin, which allows eligible patients to spend $99 on a 30-day supply of a combination of insulin products, with up to 3 vials or 2 packs of pens. This equates to $33 per vial or $49.50 per pack of pens.
5. Novo Nordisk Human Insulin, which is a program through Walmart and available at CVS that offers human insulin for approximately $25 per vial.
6. Unbranded Biologics, available at 65% off the list price of Tresiba’ biologic insulin degludec and 50% off the list price of insulin aspart and insulin aspart protamine.

Insulin has come to the forefront in social conversations. There are ongoing federal efforts to cap out-of-pocket costs at $35, and, most recently, President Joseph R. Biden addressed the successful push to cap insulin at this price per month for seniors on Medicare and called for Congress to do the same.²

References

1. Novo Nordisk to lower U.S. prices of several pre-filled insulin pens and vials up to 75% for people living with diabetes in January 2024. News release. Novo Nordisk. March 14, 2023. Accessed March 14, 2023. https://www.novonordisk-us.com/content/nncorp/us/en_us/media/news-archive/news-details.html?id=163964

2. Antrim A. Eli Lilly caps insulin out-of-pocket costs at $35 per month. Pharmacy Times. March 1, 2023. Accessed March 14, 2023. https://www.pharmacytimes.com/view/eli-lilly-caps-insulin-out-of-pocket-costs-at-35-per-month