Heeding Senator Reverend Warnock’s Call, Insulin Manufacturer Sanofi Caps Insulin Costs at $35 a Month

The announcement comes days after Senator Reverend Warnock called on Sanofi to cap insulin at $35 a month for those with private insurance

Earlier this week, Novo Nordisk announced a 70% price cut on their most popular insulin product following Senator Reverend Warnock’s efforts

This summer, Sanofi capped insulin costs at $35 for uninsured patients in a nod to Senator Warnock’s legislation

Last year, Senator Reverend Warnock introduced the Affordable Insulin Now Act, starting a months-long effort to cap the out-of-pocket cost of insulin at $35 a month

The Senator’s effort included garnering high-profile endorsements, gaining support from the House and Senate Democratic caucuses, successfully shepherding his legislation to pass the House, and ultimately securing the $35 cap for Medicare recipients

Senator Reverend Warnock: “After I pushed Sanofi and other insulin manufacturers and insurers just this week to lower insulin costs for millions of Georgians and Americans, I’m glad to see Sanofi today announce they are doing just that…These steps help, but Congress needs to prioritize addressing this like the crisis it is for too many insulin-dependent Americans. Now is the time to make this cap the law of the land–let’s get it done.

Washington, D.C. – Today, following U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock’s (D-GA) efforts, insulin manufacturer Sanofi’s announced that they would cap their most popular insulin at $35 a month in out-of-pocket costs for those with private insurance. Last summer, Sanofi announced a $35 cap on their insulin products for the uninsured. This is the second insulin manufacturer this week to cut the price or cost of their insulin product following Senator Warnock’s efforts. Sanofi joins Eli Lilly in capping insulin costs at $35 a month, taking inspiration from Senator Warnock’s Affordable Insulin Now Act, legislation that caps out-of-pocket insulin costs at $35 a month.

“First United Healthcare Group, then Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, now Sanofi,” said Senator Reverend Warnock.“After I pushed Sanofi and other insulin manufacturers and insurers just this week to lower insulin costs for millions of Georgians and Americans, I’m glad to see Sanofi today announce they are doing just that. Months after my colleagues in Congress and I raised alarm bells about the crushing costs and dire consequences of unnecessarily high insulin costs, one by one insurers and manufacturers have started to lower the cost of their life-saving drug–because they can, and because it’s the right thing to do. But let’s be clear, this is still not enough to make insulin affordable and available to all who need it. These steps help, but Congress needs to prioritize addressing this like the crisis it is for too many insulin-dependent Americans. Now is the time to make this cap the law of the land–let’s get it done.”

Key highlights of Senator Warnock’s insulin leadership below:

  • In February 2022, Senator Warnock, a long-time champion for affordable, quality health care, introduced the Affordable Insulin Now Act, which would cap the out-of-pocket cost of insulin at $35 for insulin users on private insurance and Medicare plans.
  • Senator Warnock worked successfully to build critical support for the legislation, including garnering co-sponsorships from a majority of Senate Democrats as well as securing the bill’s bipartisan passage through the House of Representatives. Additionally, the Senator secured major endorsements for his legislation from important health care and diabetes advocacy organizations, including the American Diabetes Association.
  • Senator Warnock was able to successfully secure a provision of his legislation—a $35 out-of-pocket cost cap for Medicare recipients—in the Inflation Reduction Act, which was signed into law in August 2022. 
  • Additionally, thanks to Senator Warnock’s efforts to bring national attention to this issue, in July 2022 major insurance company UnitedHealthcare announced it would eliminate out-of-pocket costs on insulin for all insured patients, and in June 2022 insulin drug manufacturer Sanofi announced it was capping the cost of insulin at $35 a month for all uninsured U.S. patients. 
  • As part of his continued effort to bring moral urgency to this issue, at last month’s State of the Union address, Senator Reverend Warnock was joined by Atlanta resident and insulin user Lacy Mason (McGee). Lacy could not afford her insulin while in graduate school, often resorting to extreme measures to buy insulin.
  • Earlier this week, Senator Reverend Warnock launched a new effort urging insulin manufacturers Novo Nordisk, Sanofi, as well as insurers to cap the out-of-pocket cost of insulin at $35 a month. As a result, both Novo Nordisk and Sanofi have capped the price of cost of their insulin products.

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