February 19, 2019 – Insulin Prices

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Anchor lead: The poster child for out of control drug prices is insulin, Elizabeth Tracey reports

Congress is looking closely at skyrocketing drug prices, with one obvious example the drug insulin. This life-preserving medicine is required by millions of people with diabetes, yet prices for many types of insulin just keep going up. Rita Kalyani, a diabetes expert at Johns Hopkins, says to get insulin pricing under control, understanding the entire supply chain is critical.

Kalyani: There are multiple parts of the chain that determine insulin pricing and I think part of what the spotlight on this issue has been has been to better understand where in that chain that prices are really being driven up, how we can contain these prices, and what other options we have for patients who can’t afford the insulin until these prices come down. But it’s been phenomenal how much insulin prices have increased particularly for these newer insulins.  :27

Kalyani says price increases are out of step with inflation and need to be scrutinized closely. At Johns Hopkins, I’m Elizabeth Tracey.