Generic Insulins Are on the Market — So Why Aren’t People Using Them?
Two generic insulins (insulin lispro and insulin aspart) offer more affordable options for people with diabetes. However, these new generics aren’t seeing high fill rates. A couple factors, including spotty insurance coverage and poor accessibility, may point to why they haven’t seen more uptake. If you’re not able to find these generics, we’ll outline other ways to save on their brands.
What generic insulins are available?
Eli Lilly introduced a generic, insulin lispro, in March 2019. It is generic for their brand insulin, Humalog. As of January 2020, Novo Nordisk now also offers a generic, insulin aspart, which is a substitute for their brand insulin, Novolog.
Both of these generic drugs are authorized generics. An authorized generic is the exact same formulation as its brand counterpart and is typically manufactured by the same company. But it doesn’t carry the brand name label.
Since the brand manufacturer makes these generic insulins in addition to their brand insulins, there is little incentive for them to market the generics widely. What’s more, authorized generics typically have higher prices than other generics because there is little competition in the marketplace working to drive down their prices.
How many people are filling for generic insulins?
After a little more than a year on the market, and despite Humalog’s higher price tag, its generic, insulin lispro, received only 35% of fills at pharmacies in March 2020. This is only a 27% increase from July 2019, when fills were at a mere 8%.
As for the brand insulin Novolog, its generic insulin counterpart, insulin aspart, only makes up 12% of the company’s fills after being on the market for over 2 months.
This is an unusual fill trend for generic versions of popular brand-name drugs. For instance, the generic for Viagra, sildenafil, had a large increase in fills after being on the market for only two weeks.
What’s causing the low fill rates?
As it turns out, availability and lack of insurance coverage are likely hindering patients’ access to generic insulins.
In December 2019, the staff of Senator Elizabeth Warren and Senator Richard Blumenthal conducted a national telephone survey of pharmacies. They compiled data between July and September 2019 to investigate why the fill rate for insulin lispro was so low.
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After calling 386 pharmacies across 50 states (190 chain pharmacies and 196 independent pharmacies) they discovered that insulin lispro was not available at 83% of pharmacies. Among those pharmacies, 69% of them said that they could not order insulin lispro even if the patient did not need it right away. Pharmacies’ inability to offer or order the cheaper generic most likely contributed to the low fill rate for insulin lispro.
Additionally, one of the nation’s largest pharmacy benefit managers, Express Scripts, announced in their 2019 formulary exclusions that insulin lispro would not be covered by their plans. They instead listed the brand Humalog as their preferred insulin drug. This decision may also have contributed to the low fill rate of insulin lispro since Express Scripts is responsible for 24% of the nation’s prescription drug insurance claims.
Other ways you can save on these brand insulins
If you are unable to find either of the generics for Humalog or Novolog, there are other ways to save on these insulins. Both of their manufacturers offer savings programs that you may qualify for to help you save on your prescription.
Brand: Humalog
KwikPen Savings Card
Lowest price: $25 per month for up to 24 months More infoLilly Diabetes Solution Center – Savings Program
Lowest price: $95 per month
Eligibility: Insured and uninsured patients
More info: Call the Lilly Diabetes Solution Center at 1-833-808-1234
Brand: Novolog
Novo Nordisk Savings Card
Lowest price: $25 per month for up to 24 months
More infoNovo My$99Insulin Program
Lowest price: $99 per month for three vials or two boxes of pens, for up to 12 months
Eligibility: Insured and uninsured patients
More info
For more information, read our guide on insulin prices and savings programs here.
Co-contributors: Diane Li
Methodology
Fill percentage is calculated on a weekly basis, and the data is based on a representative sample of U.S. claims from January 1, 2019 to March 14, 2020.
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