INDIANAPOLIS, July 12, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Starting
August 1, a new dedicated helpline
called the Lilly Diabetes Solution Center will assist people who
need help paying for their insulin – such as those with lower
incomes, the uninsured, and people in the deductible phase of their
high-deductible insurance plans, Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY)
announced today. A customized suite of solutions for all Lilly
insulins, including for Humalog® (insulin lispro), will
be used by helpline operators to find answers that best fit the
personal circumstances of patients.
Among the multiple solutions being made available through the
helpline are short-term and long-term options for people with
immediate needs for insulin and how people with lower incomes can
access Lilly insulin through free clinics. Lilly is donating
Humalog and Humulin® (insulin human injection) to three
relief agencies – Americares, Direct Relief, and Dispensary of Hope
– to supply nearly 150 free clinics across the U.S.
"We want to hear from people who have trouble paying for their
insulin so that we can try to find a solution for them," said
Enrique Conterno, president of Lilly
Diabetes and Lilly USA. "People
with diabetes face numerous costs for their treatment including
medicines, supplies and doctor visits. Our solution center can help
relieve the cost burden for many people and better ensure they
receive comprehensive treatment for diabetes. Our solution center
will take a targeted approach to the problem by finding customized
solutions for people."
David A. Ricks, Chairman and CEO
of Lilly, added: "While the current system works for many people,
there are still gaps. That's why Lilly is working with PBMs,
insurance companies, advocacy groups and others to bring solutions
to patients, and why we are advancing additional solutions today.
Lilly and our partners share a commitment to reduce the cost of
insulin at the pharmacy counter so that everyone who needs our
medicines to manage their diabetes is able to get them."
Based on estimates from market research data, more than 400,000
people living with diabetes in the U.S. and Puerto Rico could benefit from the new
solution center. Conterno said Lilly will continue to build upon
these solutions with additional answers for people who need relief
from high out-of-pocket costs.
Following are the solutions that will be made available starting
August 1:
Lilly Diabetes Solution Center helpline
The helpline
will be a dedicated service that identifies solutions for people
who have trouble affording their insulin. The solution center
helpline will be staffed with people who find options based upon
the personal circumstances of the person in need – including their
location, type of insurance, and income level. The goal of the
helpline is to ensure each person who uses Lilly insulin is matched
with the best cost solution available. The phone number will be
made available on August 1.
Free clinics
Lilly is donating insulin to three relief
agencies – Americares, Direct Relief, and Dispensary of Hope – to
eventually supply nearly 150 free clinics across the U.S. with
Lilly insulin. Helpline operators will point people toward clinics
that are most convenient to them and explain how to access them.
Lilly is working now with the relief agencies to identify as many
clinics as possible that can adequately store and distribute
insulin to people who need it. (Qualifications will differ
clinic-to-clinic).
Point of sale savings
We are increasing our financial
assistance for people who may need help paying for insulin. The
helpline will use a suite of solutions to find answers for people
who face the highest out-of-pocket costs such as people who are
uninsured and people who pay significant costs when they are in the
deductible phase of their high-deductible commercial insurance
plans. The solutions will be customizable based upon personal
circumstances and will include options for all Lilly insulins.
Immediate Needs for Insulin
If someone has an
immediate need for insulin, they will be able to call the Lilly
Diabetes Solution Center to learn about immediate and longer-term
options. "Our goal is to ensure everyone who needs insulin can get
it," said Mike Mason, senior vice
president of Connected Care and Insulins for Lilly Diabetes.
More information on these programs, including how to access
savings, will be provided on August
1. Lilly will promote the availability of these programs in
a variety of ways, including through paid advertising, social
media, and ongoing media outreach.
"Lilly has actively engaged in discussions about the price of
insulin – and potential solutions for people paying the highest
out-of-pocket costs – with patients, caregivers, healthcare
providers, advocacy groups, lawmakers, and thought leaders across
the diabetes community. Our conversations have been meaningful, and
we've taken them seriously," Mason said. "We look forward to
introducing these solutions, and others, that will help more people
who live with diabetes."
Between now and August 1, people
can dial The Lilly Answers Center at (800) 545-5979.
Indication:
Humalog® is used to treat
people with diabetes for the control of blood sugar.
Humalog® Mix75/25™ (75% insulin lispro
protamine suspension and 25% insulin lispro injection) and
Humalog® Mix50/50™ (50% insulin lispro
protamine suspension and 50% insulin lispro injection) are used to
treat adults with diabetes for the control of high blood sugar.
Do not take Humalog if your blood sugar is too low
(hypoglycemia) or if you are allergic to insulin lispro or any of
the ingredients in Humalog.
Important Safety Information for Humalog
What is the most important information I should know about
Humalog?
- Do not share your Humalog KwikPen®, Humalog Junior
KwikPen®, cartridges, reusable pen compatible with Lilly
3 mL cartridges, or syringes with other people, even if the needle
has been changed. You may give other people a serious infection or
get a serious infection from them.
- Do not change the insulin you use without talking to your
healthcare provider. Changes may make you more likely to experience
low or high blood sugar. Changes should be made cautiously under
the supervision of your healthcare provider.
- Test your blood sugar levels as your healthcare provider
instructs.
- Your insulin dose may need to change because of illness,
stress, other medicines you take, change in diet, or change in
physical activity or exercise.
- When used in a pump, do not mix or dilute Humalog with any
other insulin or liquid.
Who should not take Humalog?
- Do not take Humalog if your blood sugar is too low
(hypoglycemia) or if you are allergic to insulin lispro or any of
the ingredients in Humalog.
Before using Humalog, what should I tell my healthcare
providers?
- About all of your medical conditions, including liver, kidney,
or heart failure or other heart problems.
- If you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are
breastfeeding.
- About all the medicines you take, including prescription
(especially ones commonly called TZDs [thiazolidinediones]) and
nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal
supplements.
How should I use Humalog?
- Humalog is a rapid-acting insulin. Take Humalog within fifteen
minutes before eating or right after eating a meal.
- Always make sure you receive the correct type of Humalog from
the pharmacy.
- Do not use Humalog if it is cloudy, colored, or has solid
particles or clumps in it.
- Inject Humalog under your skin (subcutaneously). Never inject
into a vein or muscle. Change (rotate) your injection site with
each dose. Make sure you inject the correct insulin and dose.
- Do not re-use needles. Always use a new needle for each
injection. Re-use of needles can cause you to receive the wrong
dose of Humalog and result in infection.
- Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how
Humalog affects you. Do not use alcohol while using
Humalog.
What are the possible side effects of Humalog?
- Severe low blood sugar can cause unconsciousness (passing out),
seizures, and death. Low blood sugar is the most common side
effect. There are many causes of low blood sugar, including taking
too much Humalog. It is important to treat it quickly. You can
treat mild to moderate low blood sugar by drinking or eating a
quick source of sugar right away. Symptoms may be different for
each person. Be sure to talk to your healthcare provider about low
blood sugar symptoms and treatment.
- Severe life-threatening allergic reactions (whole-body
reactions) can happen. Get medical help right away if you develop a
rash over your whole body, have trouble breathing, have a fast
heartbeat, or are sweating.
- Humalog can cause life-threatening low potassium in your blood
(hypokalemia), which can cause severe breathing problems, irregular
heartbeat, and death.
- Serious side effects can include swelling of your hands and
feet and heart failure when taking certain pills called
thiazolidinediones or "TZDs" with Humalog. This may occur in some
people even if they have not had heart problems before. Tell your
healthcare provider if you have shortness of breath, swelling of
your ankles or feet, or sudden weight gain, which may be symptoms
of heart failure. Your healthcare provider may need to adjust or
stop your treatment with TZDs or Humalog.
- Failure of your insulin pump or infusion set or degradation of
the insulin in the pump can cause hyperglycemia and ketoacidosis.
Always carry an alternate form of insulin administration in case of
pump failure.
- The most common side effects of Humalog include low blood
sugar, allergic reactions, including reactions at your injection
site, skin thickening or pits at the injection site
(lipodystrophy), itching, and rash. These are not all of the
possible side effects. Ask your healthcare provider for more
information or for medical advice about side effects.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of
prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call
1-800-FDA-1088.
Humalog is available by prescription only.
For additional information, talk to your healthcare providers
and please see accompanying Full Prescribing Information
and Patient Prescribing Information.
Please see Instructions for Use included with the Humalog
KwikPen.
HI CON ISI 06JUN2017
About Lilly Diabetes
Lilly has been a global leader in
diabetes care since 1923, when we introduced the world's first
commercial insulin. Today we are building upon this heritage by
working to meet the diverse needs of people with diabetes and those
who care for them. Through research and collaboration, a broad and
growing product portfolio and a continued determination to provide
real solutions—from medicines to support programs and more—we
strive to make life better for all those affected by diabetes
around the world. For more information, visit www.lillydiabetes.com
or follow us on Twitter: @LillyDiabetes and on Facebook:
LillyDiabetesUS.
About Eli Lilly and Company
Lilly is a global
healthcare leader that unites caring with discovery to make life
better for people around the world. We were founded more than a
century ago by a man committed to creating high-quality medicines
that meet real needs, and today we remain true to that mission in
all our work. Across the globe, Lilly employees work to discover
and bring life-changing medicines to those who need them, improve
the understanding and management of disease, and give back to
communities through philanthropy and volunteerism. To learn more
about Lilly, please visit us at www.lilly.com and
www.lilly.com/newsroom/social-channels. P-LLY
Humalog® and KwikPen® are registered
trademarks of Eli Lilly and Company.
PP-DB-US-0532 07/2018 ©Lilly USA, LLC 2018. All rights reserved.
Refer to:
|
Kelley Murphy;
murphy_kelley@lilly.com; (317) 701-4007
|
|
Dani Barnhizer;
dbarnhizer@lilly.com; (317) 607-6119
|
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SOURCE Eli Lilly and Company