Lilly to offer two more lower-priced versions of insulin products

Eli Lilly is adding two more cost-saving options to its suite of solutions for people who use Lilly insulin by introducing lower-priced versions of Humalog Mix75/25 KwikPen and Humalog Junior KwikPen. Both insulins will have 50% lower list prices compared to the branded versions and will be available by mid-April, the company said.

The lower-priced version of Humalog Mix75/25 will be known as Insulin Lispro Protamine and Insulin Lispro Injectable Suspension Mix75/25 KwikPen. The lower-priced version of Humalog Junior KwikPen will be known as Insulin Lispro Injection Junior KwikPen. Both will have a list price of $265.20 for a package of five KwikPens.

Lilly's first lower-priced insulin, Insulin Lispro Injection, was made available in May 2019 at a 50% lower list price than Humalog.

In November 2019, more than 67,000 people filled prescriptions for Insulin Lispro Injection, and approximately 10% of people using Humalog have transitioned to the lower-priced option, the company said. Insulin Lispro Injection is now distributed by all major U.S. wholesalers and can be ordered by any pharmacy. Lilly will begin negotiations immediately with wholesalers and payers to make these additional lower-priced insulins available.

"Lilly is committed to offering the broadest suite of solutions for people who need help affording their insulin, and our lower-priced insulins are important options," said Mike Mason, Lilly diabetes president. "But real change to our reimbursement system is needed. Insurance coverage should ensure no one with diabetes is forced to ration or skip doses for financial reasons. The cost of insulin at the pharmacy varies dramatically depending on a person's insurance coverage. These lower-priced insulins may reduce out-of-pocket costs, especially for people in the coverage gap of Medicare Part D, the uninsured or those with high-deductible insurance plans."