100 Years of Insulin: Why Is It So Expensive and What Can Be Done?
Why Does Insulin Cost Hundreds of Dollars When It Was Discovered 100 Years Ago?
Despite being discovered in 1922 and costing pennies to manufacture, insulin now costs Americans $200-300 per vial due to patent manipulation strategies called “evergreening,” where pharmaceutical companies make minor modifications to extend exclusivity and prevent generic competition. This systematic exploitation of patent law has transformed Frederick Banting’s $1 gift to humanity into one of the most expensive medications in the world, forcing patients to ration life-saving treatment or face financial ruin.