Type 2 Diabetes

Korean study shows that depression, insomnia and anxiety add to the risk of atrial fibrillation among those with diabetes, according to a Korean study. Those mental health condition may affect the autonomic nervous system that regulates the heart. Bipolar disorder and schizophrenia did not increase the risk.

Lilly’s Rezvoglar is a long-acting human insulin analog. It follows Semglee as a biosimilar that can be substituted for Lantus for both adults and children with diabetes.

Tzield addresses the underlying cause of the disease, where the immune system destroys the insulin producing cells in the pancreas. It will be available by the end of the year with a wholesale acquisition cost of $13,850 per vial.

Omnipod DASH PDMs are at increased risk of malfunction if overcharged beyond the maximum battery voltage.

A new formulary design will be offered on the Value Script and Value Plus plans; it will contain medications used to treat diabetes and will cost only $11 per 30-day supply.

Omnipod 5 is now available through retail pharmacies, as well as specialty and mail-order pharmacies.

Abiraterone is used together with prednisone to treat patients with metastatic prostate cancer.

The Inflation Reduction Act also allows Medicare to negotiate prices on some drugs and caps out-of-pocket costs for Medicare beneficiaries.

Optum has teamed up with Sanofi to provide savings cards for six insulins through the Optum Store.

Results reported this week in JAMA Internal Medicine show a steeper decrease in HbA1C among people with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes who participated in a telehealth program that included telemonitoring, self-management support, medication management and services for depression. The comprehensive program cost about $1,500 more per year than the control program of standard telemonitoring and care coordination.

The new PDUFA date is Nov. 17, 2022. If approved, teplizumab will be the first disease-modifying therapy for type 1 diabetes.

Sanofi has lowered the out-of-pocket cost for those without insurance of its insulins to $35 for a 30-day supply through the company’s savings program.

Byetta is used to control blood sugar in patients with diabetes. A new warning includes the risk of gallstones and gallbladder inflammation.

If insulin copays were capped at $35, Part D enrollees would save 29% on average, according to new analysis from Kaiser Family Foundation.

Mounjaro is a first-in-class medicine that activates both the GLP-1 and GIP receptors, which leads to improved blood sugar control.

Ozempic is now available in three doses to improve blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes.

Allan Coukell, Civica’s senior vice president of public policy, discusses how the generic manufacturer is disrupting the market for insulins.

Once approved, the insulins will be available to patients for no more than $30 per vial.

The cost-effectiveness group say Lilly’s diabetes treatment should have an annual price of between $5,500 and $5,700. The FDA is expected to make a decision on whether to approve tirzepatide this year.

Patients who are part of the Walgreen’s Prescription Savings Club can receive Semglee at up to 80% off the cash price.

OptumRx will favor the reference product Lantus on the Premium Formulary. The organization also released coverage information about other newly approved therapies.

Branded and unbranded versions of the interchangeable biosimilar to treat patients with diabetes are now available.

At a placeholder cost equal to Ozempic, tirzepatide scored lower in a measure of cost-effectiveness compared with Ozempic but higher than Jardiance.

Prime’s formularies will include the insulin biosimilar over the reference product Lantus beginning in January 2022.

Express Scripts will put the first interchangeable biosimilar insulin on its National Preferred Formulary and exclude Lantus, the reference product.