Skip to main content Accessibility help

We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.

Close cookie message
×
  1. Home
  2. Search

Refine search

Refine search

Access:
Content type:
Publication date:
Apply   From and To filters
Subject: Show more
Journals Show more
Publishers: Show more
Societies Show more
Series: Show more
Collections: Show more

Actions for selected content:

Select all | Deselect all
  • View selected items
  • Export citations
  • Download PDF (zip)
  • Save to Kindle
  • Save to Dropbox
  • Save to Google Drive

Save Search

You can save your searches here and later view and run them again in "My saved searches".

Please provide a title, maximum of 40 characters.
Cancel
×

1 results

  • 9 - The Alleged Insulin Conspiracy

  • from Part II - Seller Cartels
  • Roger D. Blair, University of Florida, Christine Piette Durrance, Tirza J. Angerhofer, Duke University, North Carolina
  • Book:
    Antitrust Policy in Health Care Markets
    Published online:
    24 November 2022
    Print publication:
    08 December 2022, pp 204-229

  • Summary

    In the United States, more than 10 percent of the population suffers from diabetes. For many, insulin stands between them and decidedly ill health or death. This makes the demand for insulin extremely inelastic. For many low-income diabetics, the cost of insulin accounts for a large fraction of their disposable income, which makes it difficult to pay rent, maintain a healthy diet, and provide for the needs of children and aging parents. As a result, it is important to preserve and promote competition in the insulin market. But the price of insulin continues to rise, indicating that insulin markets may not be competitive. We review two possible explanations. First, there have been allegations that pharmacy benefit managers, whose primary role is to negotiate lower pharmaceutical prices, may be encouraging higher insulin prices to increase rebates and their profits. Second, there have been allegations that the three major producers of insulin – Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, and Sanofi – have been cooperating rather than competing. This chapter addresses these allegations and the antitrust response.