ArticleBMJ global health2018
Production costs and potential prices for biosimilars of human insulin and insulin analogues.
Article in BMJ global health, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 25 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
25 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 59 citations in OpenAlex.
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- Phase separation methods for protein purification: A meta-analysis of purification performance and cost-effectiveness.Biotechnology journal · 2024Pooled it
- Response to a Critique: Errors with Acri's Opinion Piece Defending IP, While Premature Deaths Pile Up from Patents.Health care analysis : HCA : journal of health philosophy and policy · 2026Article
- On-demand insulin manufacturing using cell-free systems with an "on-column" conversion approach.New biotechnology · 2025Article
- Barriers to adoption of biosimilar insulins in Europe: A mixed-methods study.Diabetes, obesity & metabolism · 2025Article
- Real world evidence of insulin and biosimilar insulin therapy-Opportunities to improve adherence, outcomes and cost-effectiveness.Diabetes, obesity & metabolism · 2025Review
- Role of biosimilar introduction on insulin glargine prices: a retrospective analysis in 28 European countries.BMJ open · 2025Article
- Lessons From Insulin: Policy Prescriptions for Affordable Diabetes and Obesity Medications.Diabetes care · 2024Review
- Building sustainable capacity for better access to diabetes care in low-resource settings: A critical review of global efforts and integrated strategies.Health care science · 2024Review
- Estimated Sustainable Cost-Based Prices for Diabetes Medicines.JAMA network open · 2024Article
- National Volume-Based Procurement (NVBP) exclusively for insulin: towards affordable access in China and beyond.BMJ global health · 2024Article
- The insulin market reaches 100.Diabetologia · 2022Article
- Biosimilar insulin concepts.Journal of diabetes · 2022Article
- Scale-up economics for cultured meat.Biotechnology and bioengineering · 2021Article
- Biosimilar Insulins and Their Impact on Prices and Utilization of Insulins in Bulgaria.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2021Article
- A global perspective on the issue of access to insulin.Diabetologia · 2021Review
- A novel peptide design aids in the expression and its simplified process of manufacturing of Insulin Glargine in Pichia pastoris.Applied microbiology and biotechnology · 2021Article
- The Current Situation Regarding Long-Acting Insulin Analogues Including Biosimilars Among African, Asian, European, and South American Countries; Findings and Implications for the Future.Frontiers in public health · 2021Article
- Utilisation Trend of Long-Acting Insulin Analogues including Biosimilars across Europe: Findings and Implications.BioMed research international · 2021Article
- Delivering a primary-level non-communicable disease programme for Syrian refugees and the host population in Jordan: a descriptive costing study.Health policy and planning · 2020Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
3 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
introductionHigh prices for insulin pose a barrier to treatment for people living with diabetes, with an estimated 50% of 100 million patients needing insulin lacking reliable access. As insulin analogues replace regular human insulin (RHI) globally, their relative prices will become increasingly important. Three originator companies control 96% of the global insulin market, and few biosimilar insulins are available. We estimated the price reductions that could be achieved if numerous biosimilar manufacturers entered the insulin market.
methodsData on the price of active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) exported from India were retrieved from an online customs database. Manufacturers of insulins were contacted for price quotes. Where market API prices could not be identified, prices were estimated based on comparison of similarity, in terms of manufacturing process, with APIs for which prices were available. Potential biosimilar prices were estimated by adding costs of excipients, formulation, transport, development and regulatory costs, and a profit margin.
resultsThe manufacturing processes for RHI and insulin analogues are similar. API prices were US$24 750/kg for RHI, US$68 757/kg for insulin glargine and an estimated US$100 000/kg for other analogues. Estimated biosimilar prices were US$48-71 per patient per year for RHI, US$49-72 for neutral protamine Hagedorn (NPH) insulin and US$78-133 for analogues (except detemir: US$283-365).
conclusionTreatment with biosimilar RHI and insulin NPH could cost ≤US$72 per year and with insulin analogues ≤US$133 per year. Estimated biosimilar prices were markedly lower than the current prices for insulin analogues. Widespread availability at estimated prices may allow substantial savings globally.
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.