Sanofi Cuts Insulin Prices, Joining Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk
The company also will establish a $35 out-of-pocket price cap for for all patients with commercial insurance that use Latnus
Soon after Novo Nordisk said1 it is lowering the U.S. list prices of several insulin products by up to 75% and Eli Lilly’s recent announced that it had significantly reduced its insulin prices2, Sanofi is cutting the list price of Lantus (insulin glargine injection) by 78%.3
Lantus is Sanofi’s most widely prescribed insulin in the United States, the company said. The company also will establish a $35 cap on out-of-pocket costs for Lantus for all patients with commercial insurance. The changes go into effect Jan. 1, 2024.
Last June, Sanofi also made several efforts to lower diabetes medicines costs, including its launch of an unbranded Lantus biologic at less than 60% versus Lantus list price, and a cap on out-of-pocket costs on insulin to $35 for all people without insurance. “With all those decisions, now Sanofi’s suite of savings programs ensures that no patient will pay more than $35 for a monthly supply of Lantus,” the company said.
Sanofi will also cut the list price of its short-acting Apidra (insulin glulisine injection) 100 Units/mL by 70%.
“Sanofi believes that no one should struggle to pay for their insulin and we are proud of our continued actions to improve access and affordability for millions of patients for many years,” said Olivier Bogillot, head of U.S. General Medicines for Sanofi.
While Sanofi launched its unbranded biologic for Lantus at 60% less than the Lantus list price in June 2022, “the health system was unable to take advantage of it due to its inherent structural challenges,” Bogillot said. “We are pleased to see others join our efforts to help patients as we now accelerate the transformation of the U.S. insulin market. Our decision to cut the list price of our lead insulin needs to be coupled with broader change to the overall system to actually drive savings for patients at the pharmacy counter.”
Novo Nordisk’s price reductions will also take effect on Jan. 1, 2024, on both pre-filled pens and vials of basal (long-acting), bolus (short-acting) and pre-mix insulins, specifically Levemir, Novolin, NovoLog and NovoLog Mix 70/30. Novo Nordisk is also reducing the list price of unbranded biologics to match the lowered price of each respective branded insulin. The company’s move follows Lilly, which in early March 2023 indicated that it was reducing the prices of several insulins by 70% and expanding its Insulin Value Program that caps patient out-of-pocket costs at $35 or less per month.
Meanwhile, Sanofi said it has several savings programs, including:
- Beginning in 2023, Sanofi insulins and Soliqua are included under the Inflation Reduction Act — where covered on Medicare formulary — which provides insulin savings, capping monthly cost at $35 for Seniors who have Medicare Part D. “This ensures a predictable, stable co-pay, regardless of phase including the donut hole,” Sanofi said.
- 100% of commercially insured people are eligible for Sanofi’s copay assistance programs, regardless of income or insurance plan design. In 2022, the programs limited out-of-pocket expenses for a majority of participating patients to $15 or less for their diabetes medicines for a 30-day supply.
- 100% of uninsured people are eligible for the Insulins Valyou Savings Program – regardless of income level – enabling them to buy one or multiple Sanofi insulins at $35 for a 30-day supply. The Soliqua (insulin glargine and lixisenatide) injection 100 Units/mL and 33 mcg/mL cash offer also allows uninsured people to pay as little as $99 per box of pens, for up to two boxes of pens for a 30-day supply.
- Sanofi provides free medications to qualified low- and middle-income patients the Sanofi Patient Connection program. “Some people facing an unexpected financial hardship may be eligible for a one-time, immediate month’s supply of their Sanofi medicine as they wait for their application to process,” the company said.
This article originally appeared in Formulary Watch.
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