4 ms·
The short answer is patents. There's a cartel of a few makers (Novo-Nordisk, Lily and Sanofi) that slightly "improve" their insulin every few years to extend th
by ng12 8y ago
The short answer is patents. There's a cartel of a few makers (Novo-Nordisk, Lily and Sanofi) that slightly "improve" their insulin every few years to extend the patents. There are some generics available but they're not the fast-acting kind most diabetics use.
- noir_lord 8y agoThe perverse one is where the new patented version is only marginally more effective but 5x the price and they stop making the old one. It's a sick system.
- koolba 8y agoIs the new, still under patent, insulin that much better than what would be available to a generic manufacturer? If the previous generation would work for plenty of patients that’s a huge market opportunity.
- SamReidHughes 8y agoWhat do you mean extend the patents? Making a new version of insulin prevents the older version from going out of patent?