3 ms·

> How cheap is the cheap option About $25, that last I checked. The ones you're talking about, I believe, are the "newer" ones (which are not very new). The pr

> How cheap is the cheap option About $25, that last I checked. The ones you're talking about, I believe, are the "newer" ones (which are not very new). The prices of those have shot up over the years (in the US) for no good reason. It's shameful.

ska 5y ago
I guess my mistake was thinking 20 plus years was old enough, that would be out of patent.
- RHSeeger 5y ago
  My understanding it that they are out of patent, but regulations make it hard for new players to enter the market. Since the number of companies making them are so limited, even the generics cost a lot. For example, Basaglar is a "generic" of Lantus, but it's still expensive. Here’s How to Save on Basaglar, the Expensive Lantus “Generic” https://www.goodrx.com/blog/basaglar-expensive-lantus-generic-how-to-save/ https://www.goodrx.com/blog/basaglar-expensive-lantus-generi... > Basaglar contains the same kind of insulin as Lantus (insulin glargine), and while it is cheaper—Basaglar costs about 15% less than Lantus—it is still expensive, with a cash price of around $450 for a 30-day supply. Unlike normal generics, the bio-similars need to go through their own clinical trials and prove they work the same as the original. They can't just "use the same ingredients" and release it. Mind you, that doesn't explain the extreme price markup, but it does explain why these "generics" don't follow the same "85% cost reduction" of normal generics. They still have, effectively, a costly R&D phase. At least, that's my understanding.
  - ska 5y ago
    I understand that argument.I hadn't thought of the issue of insulin being a biologic, so true generics aren't likely, hence biosimilars. None of this justifies a 10x+ price increase on the same product over 20 years of course. By the way that same site had an interesting article breaking down costs normalized by insulin unit https://www.goodrx.com/blog/how-much-does-insulin-cost-compare-brands/ https://www.goodrx.com/blog/how-much-does-insulin-cost-compa... By that table and some assumptions about approx 40 IU/day it looks like the cheapest you could get away with at full retail would be about $120/mo, assuming optimal usage etc. The most expensive version would be at least 5x that.

ska 5y ago

I guess my mistake was thinking 20 plus years was old enough, that would be out of patent.

RHSeeger 5y ago
My understanding it that they are out of patent, but regulations make it hard for new players to enter the market. Since the number of companies making them are so limited, even the generics cost a lot. For example, Basaglar is a "generic" of Lantus, but it's still expensive. Here’s How to Save on Basaglar, the Expensive Lantus “Generic” https://www.goodrx.com/blog/basaglar-expensive-lantus-generic-how-to-save/ https://www.goodrx.com/blog/basaglar-expensive-lantus-generi... > Basaglar contains the same kind of insulin as Lantus (insulin glargine), and while it is cheaper—Basaglar costs about 15% less than Lantus—it is still expensive, with a cash price of around $450 for a 30-day supply. Unlike normal generics, the bio-similars need to go through their own clinical trials and prove they work the same as the original. They can't just "use the same ingredients" and release it. Mind you, that doesn't explain the extreme price markup, but it does explain why these "generics" don't follow the same "85% cost reduction" of normal generics. They still have, effectively, a costly R&D phase. At least, that's my understanding.
- ska 5y ago
  I understand that argument.I hadn't thought of the issue of insulin being a biologic, so true generics aren't likely, hence biosimilars. None of this justifies a 10x+ price increase on the same product over 20 years of course. By the way that same site had an interesting article breaking down costs normalized by insulin unit https://www.goodrx.com/blog/how-much-does-insulin-cost-compare-brands/ https://www.goodrx.com/blog/how-much-does-insulin-cost-compa... By that table and some assumptions about approx 40 IU/day it looks like the cheapest you could get away with at full retail would be about $120/mo, assuming optimal usage etc. The most expensive version would be at least 5x that.