Minnesota Sues Drugmakers for Insulin Price Hikes

Minnesota is suing Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly and Sanofi for allegedly setting artificially high prices for insulin products and then offering rebates to reap insurer contracts.

In the complaint filed Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey — where Sanofi and Nordisk have their U.S. headquarters — Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson said the alleged conduct violated deceptive practice and consumer fraud laws.

As a result, uninsured patients must pay artificially inflated prices for insulin because they can only access the products without the insurer rebates, the suit claims.