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  • April 6, 2022
  • Article
  • NEJM.org

A Radical Treatment for Insulin Pricing

By: Leemore S. Dafny
  • Format:Electronic
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Abstract

In 2021, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first interchangeable biosimilar for long-acting insulin, which many hoped would be substantially cheaper than the reference branded product. I explain why prices have barely changed, and argue that a regulatory or disruptive business fix is needed to bring down insulin prices. I describe one promising fix on the horizon: the announcement by a nonprofit firm, CivicaRx, to manufacture and sell its own interchangeable biosimilars, bypassing the traditional supply chain.

Keywords

Biosimilars; Rebates; Pharmaceuticals; Health Care and Treatment; Price; Governing Rules, Regulations, and Reforms; Pharmaceutical Industry; United States

Citation

Dafny, Leemore S. "A Radical Treatment for Insulin Pricing." NEJM.org (April 6, 2022).
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About The Author

Leemore S. Dafny

General Management
→More Publications

More from the Author

    • March 31, 2022
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    Two Approaches to Capping Health Care Prices

    By: Michael E. Chernew, Maximilian J. Pany and Leemore S. Dafny
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    How Do Copayment Coupons Affect Branded Drug Prices and Quantities Purchased?

    By: Leemore S. Dafny, Kate Ho and Edward Kong
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    Regulating Hospital Prices Based on Market Concentration Is Likely to Leave High-Price Hospitals Unaffected

    By: Maximilian J. Pany, Michael E. Chernew and Leemore S. Dafny
More from the Author
  • Two Approaches to Capping Health Care Prices By: Michael E. Chernew, Maximilian J. Pany and Leemore S. Dafny
  • How Do Copayment Coupons Affect Branded Drug Prices and Quantities Purchased? By: Leemore S. Dafny, Kate Ho and Edward Kong
  • Regulating Hospital Prices Based on Market Concentration Is Likely to Leave High-Price Hospitals Unaffected By: Maximilian J. Pany, Michael E. Chernew and Leemore S. Dafny
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