RunningDroid
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https://corporate.walmart.com/newsroom/2021/06/29/walmart-revolutionizes-insulin-access-affordability-for-patients-with-diabetes-with-the-launch-of-the-first-and-only-private-brand-analog-insulin
$72.88 per vial of analog insulin.
https://www.businessinsider.com/insulin-prices-could-be-much-lower-and-drug-makers-would-still-make-healthy-profits-2018-9
$3.69 - $6.16 to produce a vial of analog insulin.
So Walmart makes at least $65 of profit for every vial of ReliOn™ analog insulin.
njjb00612
Fuck Walmart in its ass. They encourage their employees to get on state benefits while not providing those same benefits
grandopening
As a insulin-dependent diabetic, I am very happy for this news. I just wish they were equally driven to pay their employees better.
littlecoatfatguy
People who need this shit die without it, and Wal-Mart's still allowed to mark it up by more than 1000%
Fishkeeper
Well, hey, they might not die. They might just suffer and lose limbs. That's totally fine, right? /s
TheFastpaws
Pricks.
Mycatssavedme
As a diabetic, I'm very happy I don' live in a part of the world where I'd die because I can't afford my life saving medicine and supplies.
Dazzledent
As an asthmatic, I feel the same way.
Kaleopolitus
It is so sad to see that this is a win for Americans. Whipped to perfection by the corporate overlords.
Nunyajonesinc
I've got it, we'll sell them shit food so they get diabetes and then they'll have to buy their medication from us or they'll die! /S
TheeJuanAnd0nly
And drive consumers to our stores and online business rather than to Amazon
CanThinkOfUsername
Could be 98% cheaper https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63uqBBrHKTc
VodkaReindeer
Walmart keeping their customers alive is like Google running fibre to their customers. It's just good business!
AtLeastImWearingUnderwear
Or, like other countries, make it free SO YOU DON'T DIE.
SonderingStrike
The people who first made insulin are rolling in their graves, a room of mourning and loss turned to celebration.
Norwegiansilverback
Here in Norway 5x3ml (100IU/ml) Insulatard FlexPen is 369.10 NOK (USD41,68), and when you have spent 2460 NOK (USD277,82) on necessary >
Norwegiansilverback
long term medication, doctors, psychologists, physical therapists etc. in a year, you get it for free the rest of the year. I tried >
Norwegiansilverback
running this page through google translate, but the resulting URL was over 140 characters, so you'll have to translate it yourselves. >
Norwegiansilverback
https://www.felleskatalogen.no/medisin/insulatard-flexpen-insulatard-penfill-novo-nordisk-560090 >
Norwegiansilverback
And here is an official page in English about the excemption card I mentioned >
Norwegiansilverback
https://www.helsenorge.no/en/payment-for-health-services/exemption-card-for-public-health-services/
BlobbyDrawings
This is still way too expensive
HeywouldJablowme
I got charged $25 for Amoxicillin today. Why we are not revolting in the streets and slaying pharmaceutical CEOs I will never know
TarrkertheNewt
Gotta hand it to them. They saw a gap in the market and they're exploiting it. Other brands will have to compete now. :)
Lulabel73
Here’s what it costs in Australia. https://www.chemistwarehouse.com.au/buy/61485/insulin-novorapid-flexpen-3ml-5-x-5-insulin-aspart —
Lulabel73
—- most would pay the PBS amount or lower. The high price is for people who don’t have a Medicare card (non Australians)
Lugh314159
I mean..... GOOD.... but.... 58% off a product that's marked up 1500% is still too fucking much.
siler7
So go make a cheaper version.
blanco69u69
Amen.
kargadorbruh
Yikes. And to think its like 20-30usd/vial in my 3rd world country for a branded one.
Rkhbusa
Free market is always a race to the bottom as long as monopolies are in check. So it’s a promising start.
ddbrown30
Yeah, that's still a 1442% markup.
BlueCanaryInTheOutletByTheLightSwitch
It's better than nothing, which is exactly what every other company is doing.
RealFuckinNeeto
https://openinsulin.org not everyone better options are coming id say be patient but people are literally dying
Genriu
Someone else has said that it slows momentum for harder pushes because there's now "something" happening
skincancerisfun
It is true. Only way to know if it was a good move, or bad move, is to look back on it in retrospect. It will save some lives for now, tho.
ZubLord
Is that really the production cost though? Logistics, packaging, marketing, employee wages, running the factory.. etc. etc. “cost” or “COST”
Kamishiro
Last I checked, the big guys cost of good shipped(COGS) for a vial of analog insulin is about $9. That covers all overhead, including: »
Kamishiro
« labor, packaging and labeling, materials, shipping, equipment, real estate, utilities, sanitation, et all. They could charge $10/vial and»
Kamishiro
« still make millions per year off just one medicine.
ZubLord
Well I’m that case yeah definitely criminally overpriced
ecurrall
For someone like me that uses a vial a week that is almost $300 a month...way better but still outside the realm of affordable for many
WayOfTheScience
but then how will companies afford a 20% per year raise for the management?
Imguralterego
It costs me $40 a month WITHOUT concession, but I'm in Australia... I'm starting to think the US is really not a first world country.
Direkt4
The US was not allied with itself in opposition to the Soviet Union?
TheObstinateOne
I will celebrate the wins where we get them. I can't say I'm not disappointed though. Hopefully this opens the proverbial floodgates.
[deleted]
[deleted]
PINEAPPLEOVERLORD9K
google "how to actually get friends and upvotes with actual good content"
GodsFoot
Ironically this is (misplaced) capitalism done correctly. Now everyone will go to the lower price alternative
RydWolf
My first assumption when I saw 'private brand' was that it was limited to Walmart employees only, as a benefit to working for them.
FukcTedCruz
Sadly this is an attempt to prevent the flood gates. By agreeing to lose SOME profit now it slows down a government policy that could 1/
HoppulusMoMo
Amazon and Apple are getting into healthcare HARD so I think we will see some interesting things soon here.
FukcTedCruz
Potentially eliminate most, if not all profit from insulin and making it dirt cheap. It's basically throwing us a bone to slow momentum. 2/2
LespritDeLescalier22
Here, have a pizza party
Toxxsynn
I'm currently paying over $700/month on 3 vials of Humalog because I can't afford insurance. Fuck the USA.
Talldutchgirl
You mean insurance is even more expensive than $700/month?
Toxxsynn
That's exactly what I mean. It makes no sense 'cause I'll just pay more than I currently do, and still won't get any help from them.
Talldutchgirl
I’m really sorry to hear that. ? I really hope your system changes soon
SoundwaveXI
You guys are paying for health care? ??????
zerkalot
*laughs in European*
TinyOctopus
Or...OR...Tiny Octopus thinks the federal government could follow Virginia's lead and cap insulin co-pays out at $50/year. Just sayin'
AllHailTechnoViking
Or, bear with me, they focus on bringing down obesity and reducing the amount of people with type 2 diabetes.
BurtTyrannosaurusMacklinFBl
And? What about the millions of people currently with diabetes and the countless I'm that group that are in poverty?
VitaminBeaPositive
It's quite a time when Virginia is the most progressive state.
crateo
Or just remove copays from a life saving medicine alltogether.
Silnt39
Wouldn't it be crazy tho if the company only made a 1,000% profit. Think of the CEOS man!
adognamedpumpkin
Virginia’s politically unpredictable. It wouldn’t surprise me if they had the capital of another country once.
AsAHistorian
@TinyOctopus you are the only octopus in the world that I like.
SpicyPeanuts27
Or let more then one manufacturer sell the pins...
encyclopediabritannica
I didn't ever think I'd agree with my state, but right fucking on Virginia.
CreedThoughtsDotDocX
Hell yeah. Marylander here and even I’m impressed
georgedragonslayer
I can't say that @TinyOctopus has never been wrong. But, I'm guessing 9 times out of 10, it's good advice.
MintMission
Making if this country stopped voting for the turtle and his friends at every election
Idontneedrealfacts
which would force insurance companies to demand that pharma reduce prices, which they would have to. yes, good work Virginia actually.
Nanuek
Or force them to increase prices elsewhere. The system can't be fixed from within the system.
yepwatermelon
Or cap the price at $10 for a product that takes $2-3 to produce.
HPSquirrelcraft
yepwatermelon
And publicly execute the pharma execs that oppose it. :]
GenghisKhan2020
Terrible idea, won't someone think of the billionaires?!
Iullabee
yeah well, i guess we could gift them a liter of pure insulin each, injected all at once.
DigiT00l
Make it $5
MintMission
$2-$3 per vial, you need way more in a yearly supply. Transportation costs money. $50 per year is reasonable
mimomisu
I don't know, if something this small would have a markup of 100% (so those 5 bucks), that'd still easily pay for transport too,wouldn't it?
blisfulloblivion
There are also extra costs to cover potential litigation and harsher regulations. Still, $50 seems generous. $20 seems more than fair to cov
MintMission
Depending on your dosage, you'd use a vial/week or vial a month, minimum production cost is $150/year. $50 doesn't cover that.
TinyOctopus
Also, fuck Wal-Mart. Corporate leeches depending on government subsidies so they can pay their employees shit wages.
thelonepig
The wall!art here pays better than the local casinos, with better benefits and covid policies. $16+/hr at the deli. I had no idea until now.
mikeage19919
Where is here and realize depending where you live and what's available thats actually not nearly enough to thrive on
Splitkitty
I worked there- learned 4 positions- had my hours cut when they realized they would have to pay for my benefits. Still had to do the 4 jobs
Splitkitty
In less than 32 hrs a week
NotSomoneElse68
Fuck Walmart
Polysingular
You had me at fuck Walmart. I’m open to new facts coming to light, but until then…
mikeage19919
As said low wage employee I agree. I've been with the company 10+ years full time and i can barely live.
mikeage19919
And for the last year I've had to couch surf because of the overpriced market for living spaces. If working 10+ years for a company >
mikeage19919
Doesn't ensure a secure living then we are truly a failed country
tepidreindeer
Can we stop saying “government subsidies” and start saying “taxpayer subsidies” so we can really keep it in focus?
youwishyouhadaunicorn
Honestly fuck the government for doing it.
STGxDante
Seriously though they should be conducting investigations on these companies and determining what pay they need to reach or pay for govt.
STGxDante
Assistance given to their employees along with a fine.
nezo
WalMart pays it's employees fairly well honestly. Distribution centers start at or near $20 an hour for most positions and they have 1/2
nezo
Decent incentive plans. Can't speak for stores but they do increase pay frequently.
SerenePrincess013
Try working in a store for 11$/hr & having your store manager tell you "you're nothing but a cashier, & that's all you'll ever be".>>
SerenePrincess013
Also, being refused raises for 14 yrs bc someone decided that you weren't good enough at your job. But watching everyone else>>
Voxnobilus
Distribution centers have always gotten better pay always and they always pay their drivers better working in a store is dehumanizing
Voxnobilus
I've never seen a statement so fucking wrong
CopiedAndPasted
I don’t know anything about Wal-Mart’s pay…do you have any sources to back this? Just as a curious bypasser wanting to know the truth
nezo
My source is experience
GreedBrowsing
Depends on the state I suppose. I make $20/hr as an ON/stocker. Some states just need to not pay people in slave wages
NoZedWord
I remember a while back (5-10yrs?) There was a story about a Walmart program to help employees sign up for welfare, maybe its better now?
nezo
It's definitely better. I'm not here to defend a multi-billion dollar company, but just give some perspective on the current situation.
NoZedWord
All good, I just don't remember seeing a follow up to what i mentioned.
FilipeNogueira
Solid first post!
RunningDroid
Thanks!
ILiekToCookAndBake
Novolog cost approximately $6 US to make and ship a vial. I'd be happy to pay $20 a vial.
StanislastheManislas
As a Brit, it boggles the mind when I see what should be free given such horrendous markups
Pollgass
As a German I'm totally uncertain about how to feel. Happy to hear that insulin is becoming more affordable, happy and angry at the 1/2
Pollgass
same time about Walmart giving you the opportunity to LIVE but still earning a fuckload of money an curious how pharma lobby is reacting 2/2
itwasababyox
As an American, fuckin yep.
monkeyshines
I know, right? In New Zealand pens are free at clinics.
KiwiGameDev
^^^
AsAHistorian
Please hold on to the NHS, folks. Do it for those of us who wish we had one.
LurkingIntensifies
I don't think I'm alone in saying that I'd see England burn to the ground before I wanted American-style healthcare in the UK
ZucchiniBobbini
Wtf is "healthy profits" that's ridiculous, it should be NO profit
NordicusMaximus
Hard to make a profit of any kind, when your cure is too expensive and your client base is dead because of that fact…
xenusaves
It's not a cure, it's a treatment. There is no cure for Diabetes but it can go into remission with a healthy diet and weight management.
ThailandExpress
https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2019/4/10/18302238/insulin-walmart-relion remember folks, not all insulin is not the same
geoffreyfourmyle
Type 1 here. That insulin is better than nothing as long as you're careful with dose timing. It's very different than modern insulins, /1
geoffreyfourmyle
more like older formulations. People have died because they tried switching to this without understanding the differences. That said, /2
geoffreyfourmyle
I've used it myself and it'll keep you alive if there's nothing else available. Be careful! /3
buddhafw
It's just algebra. And from what I saw of HS math in America, we can't be trusted with that ourselves.
geoffreyfourmyle
Springhorn
This article is from 2019. The change in 2021 is that they are adding an insulin analog which is not the human insulin from the 1980's 1/2
Springhorn
which Vox describes in the article
Springhorn
https://www.healthline.com/diabetesmine/walmart-relion-novolog-low-cost-insulin#Reactions-from-the-diabetes-community
Rijtjeshuis
"Shit. We can't let our paying customers die! We need them!" -- Walmart, probably.
heckingoodboi56
I wouldn't be surprised if a disproportionately high percentage of Walmart customers might have need of this product.
UncleMeaty
If they are providing medication you need to survive for a more reasonable price, do you really care why they are doing it?
skoobs
Darkest comment ever on the internet right here.
skoobs
Wait. Why does everyone on this website seem to talk imperfect English?
skoobs
in perfect*
PosthumousExile
Oof
BlueCanaryInTheOutletByTheLightSwitch
I never thought I'd be saying this non-sarcastically, but: Good job, Wal-Mart.
Drewcifer70
Walmart is 'majority' owned by the Chinese government. They're smart to undercut domestic pharmaceutical companies
mithiwithi
This is news to me. Sauce?
TerribleBaconMistake
His ass and brainworms. Walmart is, shockingly, owned mainly by the Walton family.
TerribleBaconMistake
https://www.investopedia.com/articles/insights/060416/top-4-walmart-shareholders-wmt.asp
XplodingUnicornGlitter
Still too much.
amrknpsyko
Literally just said that to my wife after reading it. Good fckn job, Walmart.
Shpielers
Still a MASSIVE mark up. You can very much still say it sarcastically. This is only motivated by profit
PorneliusHubertII
Imagine one company is charging $600/product and has no competition, you become their competition and offer the same product at 70% less
PorneliusHubertII
BAM you take 100% of their customers if they don't compete. Smort.
percolatingcarborator
It's like give them 'life-line' meds, build brand loyalty and spend the rest on etc stuff at the same store win-win!
youwishyouhadaunicorn
They also not only encouraged, but paid employees $75 to get the Covid vaccine. That surprised me.
ArmachiA
My husband works at a DC. Walmart had a lot of shockingly good COVID policies in 2020 and the vaccine rollout for employees has been smooth
glittalogik
That's a lot of money when your employees' wages are so low to begin with that they need food stamps...
astrangehop
Their whole operation would shut down for the day if that one cashier on shift called out.
beez428
What cashier?
SpamYarBlockers
Isn’t insulin $3-$8 in Europe? Feels like Walmart is just locking in a higher number b4 government forces reform
percolatingcarborator
If your consumer base is 90% diabetic, it is in your interest to keep them alive so they can purchase other things besides insulin
Shpielers
With the profit margin, they just need to keep them alive to buy more insulin.
Muunk
Cookies be on roll-back
InspectorA5
But the mom & pop insulin companies...
DarkwingDuc
...are not a thing?
jrblast
I believe that was the joke.
DarkwingDuc
It was. I was attempting to continue it. Forgive me if I have done so in error.
InspectorA5
Also "NOW DO EPI-PENS"
MoBullieMom
CVS did this very thing with EpiPens a few years ago — now we just need to get more entities doing the same with other meds, but FASTER NOW
caledric
Nah, they had the ability to make it affordable and went for huge markup instead. Insulin should cost less than 10 a vial
Taktical1
True, Walmart still sucks, but the implications could be great. This could cause competitive price reductions among all insulin manufacturer
Varenvel
in europe it costs 10$ for 100 case , some pharmacies i seen some sell it even as low as 6-7$ for entire case
crateo
Insuline should be free for the patient. Stop meeting in the middle and start behaving like a civilized country
BlueCanaryInTheOutletByTheLightSwitch
It may not be a perfect, but it's more than any other company in the country is doing. Progress is progress.
Fritzy19
True, hopefully it'll get more companies in the insulin game.
UnitConversionBotButTerrible
Yep, 1 step forward in a marathon is still 1 step closer.
FantabulousMan
"They're only shooting me in one kidney rather than my face!"
sambaah05
Please read that again. That was dumb.
srsfaceI8C
If someone is already shooting me, I'd rather it be somewhere I can survive it than right into my head, yeah.
UnitConversionBotButTerrible
Having steadfast idealism like this leads to not supporting a candidate you agree with on 80% of things resulting in the 0% candidate winnin