Novo Nordisk’s move to discontinue an insulin leaves patients to ‘pick up the pieces’

A year ago, when Novo Nordisk announced it would cut the price of multiple insulin products by up to 75%, President Biden, lawmakers, and patient groups all counted the move as a win.

But several months later, Novo decided to discontinue one of those products, the basal insulin Levemir.

Though the insulin won’t officially be off the market until the end of this year, patients are already running into supply disruptions and insurance cutoffs, leaving them with few options. The discontinuation, which is happening only in the U.S., has now drawn alarm from some Democratic senators, who sent a letter to Novo last week demanding an explanation.

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