As I type this Eli Lilly is just days from releasing Basaglar, their version of the same insulin in Lantus. If I understand correctly, they’re producing an insulin composed of the same amino acid chain as Lantus, but they’re producing it by their own technique so it’s not under Sanofi’s patent.

Just having another player in the insurance market should be beneficial to patients and insurance companies. Your insurance company may, for instance, negotiate better with Lilly than other pharma companies, and this may be the first time this so-called insulin glargine is available on your formulary…at least at the most economical tier. Sadly the introduction of Basaglar is not expected to create a lot of new competition in the overall marketplace. It’s been suggested that all long-acting basal insulins may eventually come down only 20% or so in reaction to the new player.

This type of insulin is described as a 24-hour insulin, compared to Novo Nordisk’s Levemir, which is described some places as a 20-hour insulin. My son really did seem to have superior results with the 24-hour stuff before it was taken away by insurance. Although he’s on a pump, now, and not using all-day insulin, it would be nice to have access to this superior formulation. Therefore, we welcome Lilly’s innovation.