((Automated translation by Reuters, please see disclaimer https://bit.ly/rtrsauto))
(Added State Attorney General’s statement in paragraph 5, Lilly’s statement in paragraph 6, and details of the agreement) by Jonathan Stempel and Brendan Pierson
Eli Lilly LLY.N agreed to provide low-cost insulin to patients and donate free insulin to clinics, to settle a lawsuit filed by Minnesota that accused the three largest insulin makers of having deceptively increased the price of diabetes treatment.
The agreement filed Wednesday in a New Jersey federal court calls for Lilly to offer Minnesota patients who pay out of pocket the option of paying no more than $35 a month for its insulin products.
Insured patients can also choose not to use their coverage and pay the $35 instead.
The agreement, which will be in effect for five years, also calls for Lilly, headquartered in Indianapolis, to donate free insulin to 15 clinics serving Minnesotans who would otherwise have difficulty affording it. life-saving treatment.
“This historic agreement ensures that insulin will be affordable and accessible to all Minnesotans who need it,” Keith Ellison, Minnesota Attorney General, said in a statement.
Lilly said in a statement: “The agreement builds on our long-standing experience in insulin: “The agreement builds on our long-standing, industry-leading efforts to address gaps in U.S. healthcare system and expand access to affordable insulin.”
Minnesota filed the first lawsuit in 2018. It remains pending against the other defendants – Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk NOVOb.CO and France’s Sanofi SASY.PA.
According to Minnesota, the three drugmakers fraudulently set artificially high list prices for their products, while offering discounts to pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) in exchange for their coverage of the drug on behalf of the health plans.
While insured patients typically pay only a fraction of the list price, uninsured patients have found themselves paying much higher prices, Minnesota said.
Insulin is essential for patients with type 1 diabetes to control their blood sugar levels, as well as for some patients with the more common type 2 diabetes.
Last March, Lilly announced that it would reduce the price of insulin () and make it available to many patients for $25 or $35, following pressure from President Joe Biden, lawmakers and advocates. rights groups face skyrocketing costs.
An investigation released last July by U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren found that many patients still had to pay hundreds of dollars for their treatments.
According to the American Diabetes Association, approximately 8.4 million of the 37 million people with diabetes in the United States use insulin.