You can buy the original insulins from 80 years ago for $35-50. Those are human/porcine insulin and one called NPH that has an intermediate duration. Some peopl

You can buy the original insulins from 80 years ago for $35-50. Those are human/porcine insulin and one called NPH that has an intermediate duration. Some people who used those before the newer long/short/rapid actings were developed still prefer them, and others use them for cost reasons esp. because they can be obtained in the US without a prescription. I only know of one brand, Humulin by Lilly. For modern insulin, they were indeed patented but mostly generics called follow-ons or biosimilars are available. Lantus has an alternative Basaglar that costs about 1/3 as a much. Humalog can be replaced with Admelog. The manufacturer of Novolog makes a biosimilar of their own insulin and sells it for 1/3 as much, if that makes any sense. The various types differ a bit... Lantus has a slower absorption and thus longer duration than it's main competitor, Levemir. Novolog differs from Humalog in one protein on one side of the chain or something. Some people can't use one or the other due to allergies to the excipients or unexplained resistance to the effects.