4 ms·

I've been wondering why Mark Cuban's drug company - which takes a cost plus model, doesn't make insulin. It seems like a market that is likely growing, effectiv

I've been wondering why Mark Cuban's drug company - which takes a cost plus model, doesn't make insulin. It seems like a market that is likely growing, effectively has no substitutes, and you need it to live. Is it hard to manufacture? It's been around for 50+ years so I'd think they can make it efficiently by now, but perhaps not? Edit - did a bunch more digging after posting this. Looks like they gave up? https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/pharmacy/cost-plus-drugs-ends-plan-to-sell-insulin.html https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/pharmacy/cost-plus-dru...

1123581321 3y ago
It's been around about a century. It's difficult to manufacture a consistent biosimilar insulin. Regulation, physicians and patients all place a high premium on consistency and especially avoiding inconsistent doses that cause hypoglycemia. Additionally, the manufacturers, physicians and patients all push to move to new insulins as often as they become available, reducing the demand for generics (which is why, even though Walmart and Costco sell cheap over-the-counter insulin, almost no one uses it.) One interesting project to watch is the partnership between Civica and the state of California to produce quality generic insulin. CA obviously has deeper pockets than Cuban was willing to commit to Cost Plus, so hopefuly the partnership will be more fruitful.
coredog64 3y ago
Insulin sold today is not the same bovine insulin that was originally patented 100 years ago. Insulin needs to be affordable, but the trade-off we’re seeing (and that comments like this leave out) is that insulin development continues to move forward, with the new stuff being significantly better than what came before it. The $25/vial no Rx stuff at Walmart requires much more discipline and attention than the stuff that is hundreds of dollars per dose. This is the market sending signals that better insulin is worth developing.
- lotsofpulp 3y ago
  It is amazing that there is so much discourse around insulin with such a basic errooneous assumption- that "insulin" is just insulin and completely fungible.
deleted 3y ago
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1123581321 3y ago

It's been around about a century. It's difficult to manufacture a consistent biosimilar insulin. Regulation, physicians and patients all place a high premium on consistency and especially avoiding inconsistent doses that cause hypoglycemia. Additionally, the manufacturers, physicians and patients all push to move to new insulins as often as they become available, reducing the demand for generics (which is why, even though Walmart and Costco sell cheap over-the-counter insulin, almost no one uses it.) One interesting project to watch is the partnership between Civica and the state of California to produce quality generic insulin. CA obviously has deeper pockets than Cuban was willing to commit to Cost Plus, so hopefuly the partnership will be more fruitful.

coredog64 3y ago

Insulin sold today is not the same bovine insulin that was originally patented 100 years ago. Insulin needs to be affordable, but the trade-off we’re seeing (and that comments like this leave out) is that insulin development continues to move forward, with the new stuff being significantly better than what came before it. The $25/vial no Rx stuff at Walmart requires much more discipline and attention than the stuff that is hundreds of dollars per dose. This is the market sending signals that better insulin is worth developing.

lotsofpulp 3y ago
It is amazing that there is so much discourse around insulin with such a basic errooneous assumption- that "insulin" is just insulin and completely fungible.

deleted 3y ago

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