Local Doctor Reacts To Novo Nordisk Announcing Insulin Price Slash

Thousands of Oklahomans have Diabetes and many of them can’t afford the life-saving insulin they need because the price keeps going up.

Many are having to choose between their insulin or groceries, and some are even rationing it, which Dr. Jeff Galles said is very dangerous.

Novo Nordisk said it will lower the cost of their insulin products by up to 75 percent.

People with Type 1 need insulin to stay alive and those with Type 2 take it to regulate their blood sugar levels. But in both cases, insulin is must-have.

"It's critical to them,” said Dr. Galles.

The price of insulin has skyrocketed in the past 20 years and Dr. Galles said it's been hard for his patients to afford it.

"In some cases, people can be paying $600 a month for insulin,” Dr. Galles said. "For a lot of them, the insulin pricing really makes them makes choices between buying insulin and doing everything else."

Novo Nordisk is the second major drug company to say it plans to lower their prices of insulin products.

Doctor Galles said this will be a huge weight lifted off of the shoulders of many of his patients.

"It gives them the ability to do more things with the money that they have left over, so I think it really should be a good change in the quality of their life,” Dr. Galles said.

Dr. Galles said this won't affect most diabetics who are covered by insurance, but could help people who are uninsured and those with high deductibles plans.

“If what they say is true, this is going to be a pretty phenomenal deal and I don't see how there is a downside to the patient,” Dr. Galles said.

The price changes will take effect in January 2024.