Generic Insulin Out-of-Reach for Americans, Senate Survey Finds

Generic insulin is more costly and harder to reach than drugmakers have advertised, according to a new report commissioned by Democrats in the Senate.

Almost half—43%—of the 300 pharmacies surveyed reported they didn’t have Eli Lilly & Co.‘s generic insulin Lispro in stock, according to the survey from Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.). About 80% of those pharmacies said they had Eli Lilly’s more-expensive branded insulin Humalog on hand, it found.

And the average price for Lispro for people without insurance at these pharmacies was $97.51, more than triple the advertised list price ...