{"id":45844,"date":"2017-02-02T09:27:22","date_gmt":"2017-02-02T14:27:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/?p=45844"},"modified":"2017-02-02T09:29:26","modified_gmt":"2017-02-02T14:29:26","slug":"people-with-diabetes-sue-insulin-makers-over-rising-prices","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/?p=45844","title":{"rendered":"People With Diabetes Sue Insulin Makers Over Rising Prices"},"content":{"rendered":"

Eleven people living with diabetes, with the support of the law firm Hagens Berman<\/a>, have filed a class action lawsuit in Massachusetts against Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, and Sanofi over the high cost of insulin.<\/p>\n

The \u2018big three\u2019 pharmaceutical companies dominate more than 90% of the insulin market. They have raised the prices of Lantus, Levemir, Novolog and Humalog by more than 160% in the last five years, according to the law firm.<\/p>\n

The lawsuit<\/a> alleges that Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk and Sanofi have unjustly inflated their prices, while keeping the prices offered to pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) constant or even decreasing them.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

More about the Issue<\/strong><\/h3>\n

It is normal practice for drug makers to offer lower prices to PBMs, the major players in the U.S. healthcare system. Hagens Berman believe that, in the case of Lantus, Levemir, Novolog and Humalog, the difference between the list price and the price offered to pharmacy benefit managers is so vast that it is fraudulent. Pharmacy benefit managers are likely profiting enormously from these price discrepancies.<\/p>\n

The lawsuit highlights the cost of insulin and notes that since 2012, the companies \u201craised their prices in lock step.\u201d It explains, \u201cWhere clinical benefit has not changed, it cannot be used to justify a 169% price increase.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hagens Berman believes that Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk and Sanofi \u201care competing on a hidden index: spread.\u201d They explain that PBMs have control over which companies and which brands of insulin people living with diabetes purchase. They say, \u201cTo secure a position on the PBMs\u2019 formularies, these companies have artificially inflated their list price.\u201d<\/p>\n

In other words, a big discount to a PBM from a specific insulin producer like Eli Lilly, for example, means that the PBM will create a system where patients can only<\/em> purchase insulin made by Eli Lilly. It is a win-win for PBMs and pharmaceutical companies \u2013 but at the expense of the health of people with diabetes.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Patients Pay the Ultimate Price<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The diabetes advocacy group T1International<\/a> has spoken to people with type 1 diabetes who have been forced to take out loans in order to afford their medical care. Others have allowed themselves to slip into diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) in hopes of receiving insulin from emergency rooms.<\/p>\n

T1International\u2019s 2016 Diabetes Insulin and Supply Survey<\/a> revealed some harrowing information. \u201cThere are many times I can\u2019t afford my meds so I go without, even knowing it will kill me,\u201d said one respondent.<\/p>\n

A common theme from the survey was the fact that the costs associated with diabetes can drain a person\u2019s monthly income and push them into poverty. \u201cI pay roughly $5000 for three months of diabetes supplies. With deductibles, co-insurances, co-pays, premiums, etc. it is over half of my yearly income,\u201d another respondent explained.<\/p>\n

The legal complaint filed by the patients and the firm cites similar stories. It describes patients who have been unable to afford their insulin and therefore have resorted to under-dosing or taking it less often than needed. Others have starved themselves to reduce insulin dosages, used expired insulin, and have avoided visiting their doctor regularly.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe stress of this financial burden is all consuming,\u201d the complaint reads. \u201c\u2026many plaintiffs describe a constant state of anxiety brought on by their inability to afford the rising insulin prices.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

People with Diabetes Fight Back<\/strong><\/h3>\n

T1International has been involved with the legal team leading this case by connecting them with people living with type 1 diabetes who wish to share their story and speak out against high prices. Patients have shared their painful experiences, and several are now plaintiffs in the case.<\/p>\n

Steve Berman, lead counsel on the lawsuit, told T1International: \u201cThese patients \u2013 plaintiffs in this lawsuit – have suffered physically, financially, and emotionally. But what most people do not know is that the pharmaceutical companies that have demanded higher and higher payments from patients each year actually offer much lower prices to other actors within the healthcare system, actors that control which medications patients take. Insulin makers have raised their prices so significantly just so that they can offer these other actors deeper discounts.<\/p>\n

The aim of this lawsuit is to bring the insulin makers\u2019 deceptive and unfair conduct to light and to force an end to such behavior. This lawsuit seeks to compensate people living with diabetes who have been deeply harmed by the drug companies\u2019 price increases. We are glad to have support from T1International on this case.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Pharma\u2019s Response<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Unsurprisingly, the companies have denied the issues raised in the complaint and say they will fight to defend themselves. It is likely that they will continue to cite their recent measures, including Eli Lilly\u2019s new discount program<\/a> or Novo Nordisk\u2019s commitment<\/a> to only single-digit price increases. T1International recently responded<\/a> to those measures, and Hagens Berman had similar things to say:<\/p>\n

\u2018\u2019Long overdue, these affordability measures still do not end or even address the insidious practice of competing for PBM business based on the spread between benchmark and net price. Nor do they make whole the patients who have spent thousands of dollars out of pocket on long-acting insulin for the past few years. Therefore, these measures fail to address the structural issues that have given rise to the price hikes that have hurt under-insured and uninsured diabetes patients for years.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Next Steps<\/strong><\/h3>\n

This process will be a long one, and it could take years before we see any outcomes. There will be pushback from these companies to get the lawsuit thrown out, but Hagens Berman is prepared to fight, and T1International<\/a> will fight with them.<\/p>\n

You can read more here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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