Stacey Silverman, a 55-year-old resident of the Dallas area, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at 48. She had been struggling with high blood sugar, fatigue, and headaches until she started using Levemir, a long-acting insulin. Now, she and countless other patients are facing the prospect of finding an alternative, as Novo Nordisk, the company behind Levemir, has announced its discontinuation. This decision has raised concerns for patients like Silverman, who have relied on the drug for years to manage their condition. She states, “I need this drug to live. This drug has worked very well for me since I was diagnosed.” The pharmaceutical company had previously reduced the list price of Levemir by 65%, providing temporary relief, but the drug’s discontinuation will overshadow this relief. Novo Nordisk plans to halt U.S. sales of the injectable FlexPen version of Levemir in April and the Levemir vials by the end of December. The company attributed this decision to manufacturing constraints and limited access to the drug by pharmacy managers and insurers. The company recommended that patients switch to other long-acting insulins, such as glargine and degludec, and also take quick-acting insulin with meals.
Discontinuation of Levemir is a significant challenge for diabetes patients who rely on insulin. The high cost of insulin has been a longstanding issue, with a study revealing that 16.5% of adults dependent on insulin did not take full doses due to the expense. Advocates have lobbied for more affordable insulin, and recent price cuts by the major insulin manufacturers were a positive step. Levemir, which received FDA approval in 2005, has been a reliable treatment option for many patients, but newer and longer-acting insulins and alternative medications have since entered the market. However, for individuals like Silverman, who have benefited from the effectiveness of Levemir for nearly two decades, the discontinuation presents a concerning predicament.
The discontinuation of Levemir has raised concerns for families who have found the drug to be the best option for their loved ones. The discontinuation will lead to the elimination of a significant basal insulin, creating difficulties for active teens like Alison Smart’s daughter and Lester Hightower’s son, who have depended on Levemir for managing their blood sugar levels throughout the day and night.Finding a suitable replacement for Levemir will be a challenging task for patients and their families, and the discontinuation aligns with the trend of pharmaceutical companies replacing older drugs with newer, more expensive versions. These discontinued insulins limit treatment options for patients and have led to concerns about the growing emphasis on the more lucrative market for weight-loss drugs by companies like Novo Nordisk.
Financial analysts predict that Novo Nordisk’s decision to discontinue Levemir is driven by a shift in focus towards the more profitable market of weight-loss drugs. The company’s sales from weight-loss and diabetes drugs have surpassed those of Levemir. This move reflects the diminishing financial significance of insulin to Novo Nordisk, with the company likely redirecting its efforts towards newer insulin products. Patients like Stacey Silverman, who have found success with Levemir, are apprehensive about the need to switch to alternative medications and are concerned about the potential impact on their health and well-being.
