With Congress weighing a cap on out-of-pocket costs for insulin for certain individuals, Sanofi has beaten the government to the punch.
The Paris-based company says it will slash the price of its fleet of insulin products to uninsured residents of the U.S. from $99 per month to $35.
That price, not coincidentally, is what the U.S. may soon establish as a ceiling for insulin for Medicare Part D beneficiaries and for certain group and individual plans. The measure was passed by the House of Representatives by a 232-193 vote and now awaits review in the Senate.
With diabetes on the rise in the U.S.—and the disorder disproportionally affecting people with lesser means—the high price of insulin has long been a target of special interest groups.
Under pressure, top sellers Sanofi, Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly have dropped their insulin prices in recent years but not nearly to the levels found in other countries.
Last year, the Rand Corporation pointed out that the average list price in Canada was $12 compared to $98.70 in the U.S.
Sanofi’s new initiative updates its Insulins Valyou Savings Program in the U.S.
“Informed by patient feedback, Sanofi has updated our industry-leading assistance program to continue addressing access and affordability challenges for all people living with diabetes, regardless of insurance coverage,” Adam Gluck, Sanofi’s Head of U.S. and Global Specialty Care Corporate Affairs, said in a release.
As for other users, Sanofi said that it continues to offer other savings programs to make insulins “accessible and affordable.” All who are commercially insured are eligible for co-pay assistance, regardless of income or insurance plan design, Sanofi said.