Making Insulin More Affordable to Improve Clinical Outcomes

The incidence of diabetes continues to soar, and some patients with diabetes rely on the use of insulin to effectively manage their condition. Unfortunately, due to the costs of insulin and lack of insurance coverage, some patients are unable to afford this vital component of diabetes treatment.

A recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine sought to ascertain the incidence and factors contributing to insulin rationing. The study used data from the 2021 National Health Interview Survey and discovered that an estimated 16.5% of participants, which translated to 1.3 million diabetics nationwide on insulin according to study authors, reported rationing their insulin during that year due to the high cost of the product.¹ The survey also revealed that nearly 1/3 of survey respondents without health insurance reported rationing their insulin.¹

In another study published in Health Affairs, researchers reported, “14% of people who use insulin in the United States face what are described as a “catastrophic” levels of spending on insulin, meaning they spent at least 40% of their post-subsistence income — what is available after paying for food and housing — on insulin.”²

In October 2023, GoodRx announced its collaboration with the pharmaceutical company Sanofi to provide the prescribed insulin injection Lantus for only $35, and it will go into effect on January 1, 2024.

Dorothy Gemmell, chief commercial officer at GoodRx, stated, “Efforts to make insulin more accessible have been at the forefront of the news for months, and a critical piece of delivering on this promise is making it as simple as possible for patients to get the lower price right at their regular pharmacy counter. Sanofi is taking action and providing Americans who need insulin with the ability to access Lantus in an easy and affordable way, regardless of insurance status. We’re proud to collaborate with them on this initiative.”³

To access the $35 price coupon, which can be used at any pharmacy that accepts GoodRx, including CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart, patients can visit GoodRx.com/lantus. GoodRx states that this initiative adds to Sanofi's other savings programs, including offering Lantus for $35 per month to patients without insurance.³ GoodRx also provides supportive resources to help consumers holistically manage their diabetes including discounts on continuous glucose monitors and coupons for diabetes medications, as well as a Diabetes Hub that provides diabetes-related articles and patient education resources written by medical experts on GoodRx Health.³

“Sanofi believes that no one should struggle to pay for their insulin,” stated Olivier Bogillot, head of US General Medicines at Sanofi. “We are proud to collaborate with GoodRx to build on our existing suite of industry-leading savings programs to expand access and affordability pathways that can bring convenient and meaningful impact at the pharmacy counter.”

Conclusion

As the number of individuals with diabetes continues to increase, with recent research projecting incidence to double by 2050⁴, it is essential to implement measures to make medications for its treatment, including insulin when needed, more affordable so that patients can have access to these valuable medications to control and manage diabetes. By effectively treating diabetes, health, and economic burdens associated with uncontrolled diabetes, including the risk of other chronic morbidities, mortality, and increased health care resource utilization, including office visits, ER visits, and hospitalizations, will also be reduced. Any measure to make medications more affordable is a step in the right direction.

References

1. Gaffney A, Himmelstein DU, Woolhandler S. Prevalence and correlates of patient rationing of insulin in the United States: A national survey. Ann Intern Med. 2022;175(11):1623-1626. doi:10.7326/M22-2477
2. Locklear M. Insulin is an extreme financial burden for over 14% of Americans who use it. Yale News. Published July 5, 2022. Accessed December 5, 2023. https://news.yale.edu/2022/07/05/insulin-extreme-financial-burden-over-14-americans-who-use-it
3. GoodRx announces new way for consumers to access Sanofi’s Lantus for $35 at over 70,000 pharmacies nationwide. News release. GoodRx. October 19, 2023. Accessed December 5, 2023. https://investors.goodrx.com/news-releases/news-release-details/goodrx-announces-new-way-consumers-access-sanofis-lantus-35-over
4. GBD 2021 Diabetes Collaborators. Global, regional, and national burden of diabetes from 1990 to 2021, with projections of prevalence to 2050: A systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. Lancet. Published online June 22, 2023. 2023;402(10397). doi:10.1016/PII. Accessed December 5, 2023. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(23)01301-6/fulltext#%20