Why Was Levemir Discontinued? 5 Questions Answered, Including Levemir Alternatives

Picture this: you go to the pharmacy to pick up your insulin prescription. But when you get there, the pharmacist tells you that the insulin you use is no longer available. Unfortunately, this scenario is becoming a reality for the millions of people who use Levemir (insulin detemir).

Levemir manufacturer Novo Nordisk recently announced they were planning to discontinue the medication. This long-acting insulin has been on the U.S. market since 2005. So it may come as a shock to learn that they decided to stop making it after almost 20 years.

So, why was Levemir discontinued? And are there alternatives? Below, we answer five frequently asked questions about Levemir’s discontinuation, so you can take action now and avoid going without insulin.

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1. Why is Novo Nordisk discontinuing Levemir insulin?

There are two reasons why Novo Nordisk is discontinuing Levemir: global manufacturing issues and decreasing insurance coverage. They’ve also said that they’re confident people will be able to find suitable replacements.

Multiple steps are involved to make and distribute insulin. If problems arise at any step, it can greatly disrupt production. Novo Nordisk hasn’t provided details on what manufacturing issues are happening. But it doesn’t take much to slow down or stop medication production.

Novo Nordisk’s statement also suggests that Levemir isn’t preferred or covered by many insurance plans. This could be due to the increasing availability of biosimilar insulins. Biosimilars are very similar versions of a biologic medication. Insulin is one example of a biologic medication.

Similar to generic medications, biosimilar insulins have a lower cost. And insurance coverage of biosimilars is widening as more biosimilar medications become available.

2. When will Levemir insulin be discontinued?

Levemir will be phased out during 2024. Levemir FlexPen will be officially discontinued on April 1, 2024. Levemir vials will be discontinued on December 31, 2024. But supply disruptions of the medication may start happening at pharmacies before these official discontinuation dates.

3. Does Levemir have a biosimilar available?

No, Levemir doesn’t have a biosimilar available at this time. Levemir’s patents have already expired. So other manufacturers could develop a biosimilar if they want. But biosimilar medications are more complex to make than generic medications, so they can take longer to come to market after patents expire.

4. What Levemir alternatives are available?

Levemir is a basal (long-acting) insulin. It can help provide stable glucose (sugar) balance for close to 24 hours. There are a few Levemir alternatives that provide similar effects:

• Tresiba (insulin degludec)

• Lantus (insulin glargine)

• Semglee (insulin glargine-yfgn)

• Rezvoglar (insulin glargine-aglr)

• Basaglar (insulin glargine)

• Toujeo (insulin glargine)

Levemir vs. Tresiba

Levemir and Tresiba are both made by Novo Nordisk. While similar, there are some differences between them. The biggest difference is how long they last.

Tresiba is an ultra long-acting insulin. Its glucose-lowering effects can last for up to 42 hours. You only need to inject it once a day.

Levemir doesn’t last as long. In fact, lower doses might not last for a whole day. That’s why many people need to inject Levemir twice a day. So Tresiba could be a more convenient alternative.

5. What should you do if you currently use Levemir?

If you take Levemir, don’t fret. There are steps you can take now to avoid going without insulin:

• Call your pharmacy. Your pharmacist can tell you if they’ve stopped receiving Levemir shipments. They can also help start a conversation with your endocrinologist (diabetes specialist) to find you an alternative.

• Call your health insurance plan. Different insurance companies have different medication formularies. This is a list of what medications they cover. Your insurance plan can tell you which other long-acting insulins are covered.

• Call your endocrinologist’s office. Many endocrinology teams are already aware that Levemir is being discontinued. They can help decide which Levemir alternative may be the best option for you to try first.

It’s a good idea to start taking action now. Waiting until you’re low on Levemir may lead to interruptions to your insulin therapy which can be dangerous.

Good to know: The first Levemir alternative you try may not be the best option for you. It may also take some time to find the right dose. And you may need to temporarily check your glucose levels more often after switching. Be open with your diabetes care team if you’re having trouble with your new insulin. You should also contact them if your blood glucose isn’t being lowered as much as it was with Levemir (or is being lowered too much).

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Written by:

Christina Aungst, PharmD

Christina Aungst, PharmD, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. She began writing for GoodRx Health in 2019, transitioning from freelance writer to editor in 2021.

Reviewed by:

Amy B. Gragnolati, PharmD, BCPS

Amy Gragnolati, PharmD, BCPS, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. Amy currently holds her pharmacist license in Georgia and California.

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