Sanofi Drops Lantus US List Price by 78%, Capping Out-of-Pocket Costs at $35

Sanofi announced on March 16, 2023 that it will cut the US list price of Lantus (insulin glargine injection) 100 units/mL, a widely prescribed insulin, by 78%. The company will also establish a $35 per month cap on out-of-pocket costs for Lantus, which will apply to all patients with commercial insurance.

The price changes will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2024, and follows decisions made in June 2022 to lower diabetes medicines costs, such as the launch of an unbranded Lantus biologic at 60% less than the Lantus list price and a cap on out-of-pocket costs on insulin to $35 for all people without insurance. In addition, Sanofi will also cut the list price of its short-acting Apidra (insulin glulisine injection) 100 Units/mL by 70%.

In a similar move, Eli Lilly and Company announced in early March 2023 that it is capping its out-of-pocket cost for insulin to $35 per month for patients with commercial insurance and set lower list prices for its other insulin products (1).

“Sanofi believes that no one should struggle to pay for their insulin and we are proud of our continued actions to improve access and affordability for millions of patients for many years. We launched our unbranded biologic for Lantus at 60 percent less than the Lantus list price in June 2022 but, despite this pioneering low-price approach, the health system was unable to take advantage of it due to its inherent structural challenges,” said Olivier Bogillot, head of US General Medicines, Sanofi, in a company press release. “We are pleased to see others join our efforts to help patients as we now accelerate the transformation of the US insulin market. Our decision to cut the list price of our lead insulin needs to be coupled with broader change to the overall system to actually drive savings for patients at the pharmacy counter.”

Source: Sanofi

Reference

1. Eli Lilly and Company. Lilly Cuts Insulin Prices by 70% and Caps Patient Insulin Out-of-Pocket Costs at $35 Per Month. Press Release, March 1, 2023.