Eli Lilly Launches Lower-Cost Versions of Humalog Mix75/25 and Humalog Junior KwikPen in the U.S.

Compiled by S.Li

Recently, Eli Lilly announced the official launch of two prefilled insulin injection products—Humalog—in the U.S. market^® Mix75/25™ KwikPen^®and Humalog^® Junior KwikPen^®low-priced versions of the product. These two low-priced insulin injections contain exactly the same ingredients as the branded products of the same specifications, but use different packaging, resulting in a 50% price reduction.

Eli Lilly first launched its insulin price reduction program in May 2019, introducing Lispro insulin injection (100 units/mL) at half the price of the original branded product, with each vial priced at $137.35. By November of the same year, 67,000 patients had received prescriptions for this lower-priced insulin, and 10% of these patients had transitioned to using the affordable insulin injection. As of March this year, over 120,000 prescriptions for the lower-priced Lispro insulin had been issued. Currently, the prescription ratio between the lower-priced Lispro insulin and the original branded insulin has reached 1:6. The lower-priced Lispro insulin injection is now available through major distributors across the United States. Eli Lilly stated that it will initiate negotiations with distributors and payers as soon as possible to accelerate access to the affordable product.

Compared to the low-cost Lispro injection launched last year, the two products introduced this time are more significant, with their combined prescription volume accounting for over 90% of Eli Lilly’s mealtime insulin product line prescriptions.

The U.S. non-profit Institute for Clinical and Economic Review released a report on insulin costs last year, showing that insulin prices doubled between 2012 and 2016. As a result, even patients with health insurance struggle to reliably access and use insulin. Regulatory authorities have also launched special investigations into insulin pricing, and executives from several major pharmaceutical companies were even questioned by senators over excessively high drug prices. In recent years, companies such as Eli Lilly have successively introduced authorized generics to replace high-priced patented drugs, benefiting patients while adapting to the situation.

Mike Mason, President of Eli Lilly’s Diabetes Business Unit, stated, “Out-of-pocket costs for insulin vary significantly depending on patients’ insurance plans. We aim to address gaps in the healthcare coverage system, including for those who are unable to seamlessly purchase insulin through our program due to their enrollment in Medicare Part D.”

References:

1、Eli Lilly Unveils Another Round of Lower-Cost Insulin Products

2、Lower-priced versions of Humalog® Mix75/25™ KwikPen® and Humalog® Junior KwikPen® now available