Biotech Values

[Mufaso]

Drug Pricing "Casualty"- Novo is discontinuing Levemir (Insulin) manufacture in the US because it was "forced" to reduce pricing. The drug had some unique characteristics and some think they will be worse off as a result. The company has not announced plans to discontinue the drug in other countries.

Diabetes patients lament drugmaker's decision to discontinue Levemir insulin
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2024/01/28/levemir-insulin-will-be-discontinued/72261823007/

After she was diagnosed at age 48 with Type 1 diabetes, Stacey Silverman muddled through her days with high blood sugar, fatigue and splitting headaches...Taking a long-acting form of insulin called Levemir, one of many types of the hormone on the market, resolved those blood sugar swings.

Now the 55-year-old Dallas-area resident worries her health will once again be upended. Novo Nordisk, the pharmaceutical company that makes Levemir, has announced it will discontinue the drug this year. That means Silverman and tens of thousands of patients like her will have to find a replacement.

There are other long acting insulins out there including glargine and degludec but the political outcry and regarding drug pricing will ultimately cause more decisions to be made like the one NVO made.

If you are interested in what caused the price reduction in the first place - here is a good article from fierce pharma:
https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/impetus-behind-lilly-novo-and-sanofis-insulin-price-cuts-explained-report