The Insulin Affordability Crisis: Why a 100-Year-Old Drug Still Costs Hundreds

Insulin was discovered in 1921 and patented for $1. Yet in 2026, Americans pay $300-900/month for insulin that costs $10-30 to manufacture. The three insulin manufacturers (Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly, Sanofi) raised prices 500-1000% over two decades. This price gouging contributed to 1 in 4 diabetics rationing insulin, causing preventable deaths. The Inflation Reduction Act capped insulin costs at $35/month for Medicare patients. Several states have passed similar caps. Biosimilar insulins are entering the market, but prices remain high. The insulin crisis exemplifies everything wrong with pharmaceutical pricing in America.