Sanofi joins Lilly and Novo Nordisk in drastic insulin price reductions

[Image courtesy of ayo888 via iStock Photo]

Paris-based Sanofi (Nasdaq:SNY) is the fastest company to reduce insulin prices. The pharmaceutical behemoth said it would cut  the list price of Lantus (insulin glargine injection) by 78%. Lantus is its most commonly prescribed insulin in the U.S. Moreover, Sanofi will implement a $35 cap on out-of-pocket expenses for users of the insulin.

Sanofi has also pledged to slash the list price of its short-acting Apidra (insulin glulisine injection) 100 units/mL by a 70%.

The company has a 40% share of the U.S. market.

Lilly and Novo Nordisk have similar initiatives

This follows recent announcements from other companies striving to decrease insulin costs. For example, Eli Lilly (NYSE:LLY) committed to capping out-of-pocket expenses for insulin at $35 monthly. Lilly also said it would drop the price of its non-branded insulin to $25 per vial, resulting in cos…

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Supply Chain EVP Greg Smith sees fewer suppliers in Medtronic’s future

Greg Smith is Medtronic’s EVP of global operations and supply chain [Photo courtesy of Medtronic]

All eyes are on Medtronic’s global operations and supply chain leader as he works to modernize its operations and scrutinize suppliers.

EVP of Global Operations and Supply Chain Greg Smith sees fewer suppliers in Medtronic’s future, he said in an interview this week.

Smith spoke with DeviceTalks Editorial Director Tom Salemi in his first published interview since joining Medtronic (NYSE:MDT) in April 2021.

Smith was previously EVP of U.S. supply chain at Walmart and SVP of global operations at Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. His more than three decades of experience also includes time at ConAgra Foods, United Signature Foods, VDK Frozen Foods and Quaker Oats.

Around the same time that he joined Medtronic, semiconductors and resins were in short supply following the February 2021 cold s…

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Medtronic supply chain chief Greg Smith on shortages, suppliers and strategy

Greg Smith is Medtronic’s EVP of global operations and supply chain. [Photo courtesy of Medtronic]

The heat is on for Medtronic’s global operations and supply chain leader as he forges new links with suppliers the company relies on for innovation, quality and reliability.

For much of his 36-year career in operations, Greg Smith has had to explain to family and friends what the supply chain is and what his job is all about.

“I don’t have to do that anymore,” he said.

It’s no wonder why. Examples of supply chain SNAFUs have intruded on nearly all aspects of our everyday lives since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, from shortages of masks, test components and toilet paper in the early days to persistent bottlenecks in semiconductors, resins and the many medical and consumer products that use them.

Smith is EVP of global operations and supply chain at Medtron…

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CGMs, insulin pumps and more: the biggest diabetes news to come out of ATTD 2022

All kinds of technologies were on display at the Advanced Technologies & Treatments for Diabetes (ATTD) conference in Barcelona last week.

From continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) to automated insulin delivery, with plenty in between, a number of companies shared positive data for their diabetes offerings.

Here are five of the biggest stories to come out of ATTD 2022:

 

Dexcom’s G7 is accurate in pediatric T1D patients

Dexcom (Nasdaq:DXCM) published new data highlighting the accuracy of the next-generation G7 continuous glucose monitor in children.

The study, published in the Journal of Diabetes and Scientific Technology, evaluated the G7 CGM in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes. G7, which last month won CE mark approval, remains under FDA 510(k) review.

 

Get the full story at our sister site, Drug Delivery Business News.

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Walmart unveils telehealth offering for managing diabetes

[Image from Walmart]Walmart announced today that its MeMD national telehealth provider partner launched the Walmart Health Virtual Care Diabetes Program.

The platform, available as a standalone or as part of a comprehensive medical and behavioral telehealth program, was developed for employers and payors to help their employees and members close gaps in diabetes management among employees and their families through early intervention with an eye on better health outcomes.

Get the full story at our sister site, Drug Delivery Business News.

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The Biden administration vows to increase COVID-19 antiviral supplies

Photo by Tabrez Syed on Unsplash

White House officials have a plan to ramp up the availability of Pfizer’s COVID-19 antiviral Paxlovid, according to a report from Bloomberg.

White House Covid-19 Response Coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha said that the administration would announce more details about the plans to make Paxlovid more widely available in the coming week.

The administration plans to launch a test-to-treat initiative that allows recently diagnosed COVID-19 patients to receive Paxlovid at no cost.

CVS, Walgreens and Walmart plan on participating in the program.

According to White House officials, the use of oral antivirals increased 103% between March 27 and April 10.

Anecdotal evidence from a handful of patients suggests that Paxlovid also may help relieve so-called long COVID-19 symptoms, according to Reuters. However, more data are needed to confirm the drug’s efficacy in re…

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Walmart teams up with Novo Nordisk to launch private-brand analog insulin 

Walmart (NYSE:WMT) is launching what it describes as the first private label analog insulin. The company estimates the insulin products will save customers between 58% and 70% of the cost of branded insulin.

Novo Nordisk (NYSE:NVO) will manufacture the analog insulin, which is a type of lab-grown insulin genetically engineered to optimize glucose control. The retail price of analog insulin vials will be $72.88, while a FlexPen insulin pen will cost $85.88. Walmart has concluded that the per-unit savings of the products will be $101 per vial and $251 per insulin pen, respectively.

The insulin will only be available through Walmart’s ReliOn brand of diabetes products.

Get the full story from our sister site, Drug Delivery Business.

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