Eli Lilly Will Offer Half-Priced Insulin Generic in U.S.

As pressure continues to build on drugmakers to address high drug prices, Eli Lilly announced that it will market a half-priced generic of its Humalog insulin injection in the U.S.

The company said that its lower-cost version of the blockbuster diabetes treatment — Insulin Lispro — will be sold at $137.35 for a single vial and $265.20 for a pack of five pens. The drugmaker said it is now working with suppliers to get the generic products onto pharmacy shelves as soon as possible.

“Introducing an alternative insulin option allows Lilly to provide a lower-priced insulin more quickly while providing payers time to renegotiate downstream contracts and adjust to new system economics,” the company said.