Lots going on in the diabetes world … here’s just a little catch up time!
- Lilly insulin up to 51% off, through Blink Health, according to www.diaTribe.org, 30 January 2017 … that’s a start!
“On January 1, Lilly launched a first-of-its-kind program, in partnership with Express Scripts, that offers significant discounts on brand name Lilly insulin to people in the USA with diabetes and high out-of-pocket costs. The program, which shows discounts of up to 51% for some Lilly insulins on Blink Health, will be most impactful for those with high deductible health plans or no insurance.”
Read more: Up to 51% Off Lilly Insulin Through Blink Health
- Big News from City of Hope, as reported in The diaTribe Foundation and City of Hope, 16 January 2017!
The City of Hope, a prominent medical research and care center in southern California, received a gift of $50 million to establish the Wanek Family Project to Cure Type 1 Diabetes. The gift was a contribution from the Wanek family, of the Ashley home furniture brand, along with a number of anonymous partner donors. City of Hope has declared an ambitious goal – a cure for type 1 diabetes within 6 years.
Read more:
The Wanek Family Project for Type 1 Diabetes
- Novo Nordisk and Glooko to Develop Digital Diabetes Tools, also reported in diaTribe.org, 30 January, 2017.
Insulin maker Novo Nordisk has teamed up with diabetes software expert Glooko to develop new digital tools for people with diabetes. The collaboration, a result of over three years of discussions, will launch its first product in 2017.
A major goal of the partnership is to develop insulin dosing advisor software to help people with diabetes and healthcare professionals use insulin more effectively and safely – for example, giving specific advice on how much insulin to take based on recent blood glucose levels. It’s not yet clear if this software, with its very high potential, will launch this year or later.
Read more: Novo Nordisk and Glooko to Develop Digital Diabetes Tools
- PWDs Sue Insulin Makers Over Rising Prices, as reported on ASweetLife.org, from www.hbsslaw.com, 17 February 2017.
“Hagens Berman has filed a nationwide class-action lawsuit against drug manufacturers, Sanofi, Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, for committing fraud and illegally raising the price of insulin for many of the 29 million people in the U.S. living with diabetes.
The firm’s investigation shows that these companies have increased the publicly reported, list prices of Lantus, Levemir, Novolog and Humalog by more than 160% in the last five years, while keeping the prices they offer to pharmacy benefit managers constant or even lowering them.
If you are, or were at one time, uninsured and paying out-of-pocket for Lantus, Levemir, Novolog or Humalog or are insured, but paying significant amounts out-of-pocket under a high-deductible plan or a plan with high coinsurance rates, you may be entitled to damages. The firm is also interested in hearing from individuals who did not purchase Lantus, Levemir, Novolog or Humalog, but would have if the prices of these drugs had been lower.”
Read more:
People With Diabetes Sue Insulin Makers Over Rising Prices
US District Court, Massachusetts Demand for Jury Trial
- What’s Up with Johnson & Johnson? in reports by the Philadelphia Business Journal and other news agencies.
On 24 January, 2017, J&J announced it is exploring “potential strategic options” for its diabetes care companies, including its Animas Corporation subsidiary. Animas of West Chester makes and markets insulin pumps and related devices for diabetics. It recently worked with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation on a project to develop an artificial pancreas system for patients with type 1 diabetes.
Other diabetes care companies in Johnson & Johnson’s portfolio include LifeScan Inc. and Calibra Medical Inc., both based in California.
Johnson and Johnson said the options may include the formation of operating partnerships, joint ventures or strategic alliances, a sale of the businesses, or other alternatives either separately or together.
Read more:
J&J exploring ‘strategic options’ for diabetes divisions
Johnson & Johnson plans more price transparency; eyes U.S. tax, healthcare changes
I think the most important news is from Animas. We are no doubt seeing the end or the beginning of the end of the life cycle of the current style of pumps. It will certainly take years and (at least 10) for the current pump style to filter out of circulation. I imagine that the current pumps will have enough life in the to attract a buyer, or if not and J&J wants to stay in t \he business they will certainly be companies for sale, for a price.
Thanks Rick … it will certainly be interesting to see what direction Animas/J&J takes. 3 years ago, there were 6 companies selling over 10 models of insulin pumps. That just seemed way too many companies for this market. We are now down to 4 companies … and many AP developers looking for pumps for their devices. I’d still love to see another tubeless pump on the market … or indeed, just the “ideal” pump!!!