Sanofi Offers $35 Insulin to All Americans Through GoodRx

Sanofi, one of the leading pharmaceutical companies, has teamed up with the prescription drug savings provider GoodRx to make its most commonly prescribed insulin available to all Americans for a mere $35, irrespective of their insurance status. This collaboration aims to address the escalating issue of soaring insulin prices in the United States.

Patients with a valid prescription can easily obtain a $35 coupon for Sanofi’s Lantus on GoodRx’s website. This coupon can be redeemed at over 70,000 retail pharmacies across the nation, including prominent chains such as CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart.

The move is part of a broader effort by major insulin manufacturers, including Sanofi, Eli Lilly, and Novo Nordisk, to reduce insulin prices and establish out-of-pocket cost caps. The initiative follows years of public outcry and political pressure regarding the exorbitant costs of diabetes care in the United States, where insulin prices are approximately eight times higher than in other developed countries.

Sanofi’s commitment to making insulin more affordable includes lowering list prices for Lantus and capping out-of-pocket costs at $35 per month. However, these changes are slated to take effect from January. Additionally, Sanofi already has an existing patient assistance program to limit insulin costs to $35 per month for uninsured diabetes patients.

While these programs exist, some patients have faced challenges accessing the $35 price point due to low awareness of copay cards and patient savings initiatives. Critics have raised concerns that these programs, often administered by manufacturers, involve complex requirements that hinder patients from benefiting.

A 2021 survey revealed that despite the pharmaceutical industry spending over $5 billion on marketing patient support programs annually, only 3% of patients make use of them. These obstacles have prompted calls for more straightforward and accessible solutions to help patients manage their healthcare costs.

While President Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act has capped monthly insulin costs at $35 for Medicare beneficiaries, it does not extend the same protection to diabetes patients with private insurance.

The high cost of insulin is a pressing issue in the United States, where approximately 37 million people, or 11.3% of the population, have diabetes. Among them, around 8.4 million diabetes patients rely on insulin to manage their condition, according to the American Diabetes Association.

The partnership between Sanofi and GoodRx marks a significant step towards addressing the affordability of insulin for Americans, offering hope for improved access to essential healthcare for those in need.