– How does Insulin not have generic versions compared to something like Tylenol?
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At this point, all versions of insulin currently for sale are effectively generic in that the last of the patents covering them and their manufacturing processes expired in 2016. Anyone could manufacture and sell them, but the companies that make most of it are NovoNordisk, Sanofi, Pfizer, and Eli Lilly.
It costs about $25K per kg to manufacture regular human insulin, $69k per kg for genetically engineered long-lasting insulin, and about $100k per kg for insulin analogs (stuff that isn’t insulin, but controls blood sugar like insulin with some differences in how quick it works and how long it lasts). That sounds expensive, but people only need tiny amounts. A “unit” of insulin is 34.7 **micro**grams and people might use 200-300 units per day (7-10 milligrams).
What does that mean for cost? A vial of insulin costs $3 – $6 to produce and package, and will sell anywhere from $170 – $400 per vial for 100 iU/mL. There’s a 55x – 65x mark up, on average, in the USA. This is why Gov. Newsom of California proposed the state start making it’s own insulin; which is a fine idea and best of luck to him in pulling that off.
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