Sanofi will reduce the costs of US insulin to $ 99 a month for some patients

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Sanofi SA announced on Wednesday that it would reduce the cost of its insulins to $ 99 a month for uninsured patients and people paying cash in the United States, the French drug maker making face sharp criticism price of life-sustaining anti-diabetes drug.

Sanofi announced the plan a few hours before one of its leaders was summoned before a congressional committee on rising insulin prices. Leaders of other major insulin producers – Eli Lilly & Co and Novo Nordisk A / S – will also testify.

The cost of insulin for treating type 1 diabetes in the United States has nearly doubled in five years, causing some patients to put their health at risk by rationing the drugs.

According to his plan, Sanofi said that people with diabetes in the United States could buy up to 10 boxes of insulin pens or vials containing a valid prescription for $ 99 a month to count of June.

According to Sanofi, the price of major insulin products from other manufacturers ranges from $ 178 to $ 300 per vial and from $ 235 to $ 563 per pack of pens.

This operation is an extension of the "Insulin Valyou Savings Program" launched by Sanofi last year and represents a significant saving for patients already enrolled who paid $ 99 per bottle of insulin and $ 149 per pack of insulin pens.

"When you hear us say in our testimony at tomorrow's hearing that it's heartbreaking and that no one should be deprived of insulin, we really think so," said Michelle Carnahan, responsible Primary Health Care in North America at Sanofi, in an interview on Tuesday. .

Sanofi is not the first company to reduce insulin prices in response to heightened criticism by both patients and policymakers. Last month, Eli Lilly announced plans to sell a 50% generic version of its popular Humalog insulin injection. The list price of Lilly's authorized generic drug, intended for sale in the United States alone, will be $ 137.35 per vial.

Patients with high insulin costs can participate in the Sanofi program regardless of their income level, Sanofi said. Under current regulations, it can not offer the plan to insured patients under government Medicare or Medicaid programs, or similar federal and national health programs.

In terms of profitability, Sanofi believed that the pricing program is sustainable in the long term. The company's diabetes business generated sales of around 2.2 billion euros ($ 2.5 billion) last year.

Since Sanofi launched its "Insulins Valyou Savings Program" last April, approximately 12,000 patients have used the program, saving nearly $ 10 million, the company said.