Journalist Experience:
At just 22 years old, Skye Murphy has been navigating life with type 1 diabetes since she was 14. However, her battle with the chronic illness has recently been exacerbated by a shortage in her essential medication, Humalog, manufactured by Eli Lilly. The pharmaceutical company announced in March that there would be a delay of 30 to 60 days in the production of key insulin medications, citing a brief delay in manufacturing as the cause. Despite the initial transparency, details on the shortage have since been removed from the news release.
Murphy, like more than 38.4 million Americans, relies on insulin for her survival. This number is staggering, surpassing the population of Tokyo, one of the world’s most populous cities. Eli Lilly, based in Indianapolis, is one of the three major players controlling the global insulin market, alongside Sanofi from France and Novo Nordisk from Denmark. Notably, Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly dominate 75 percent of the market share, both facing shortages that are impacting individuals like Murphy.
Currently down to her last vial of insulin, Murphy is forced to ration her doses in fear of not being able to find a refill. Despite suggestions from her insurance provider to use generics as an alternative, Murphy is hesitant given the trial-and-error process it took to find the right combination of medications that work for her. Generic medications, with an allowable 20 percent variation in active ingredients, pose a risk that Murphy is not willing to take.
The situation is further complicated by Novo Nordisk’s decision to phase out its long-lasting insulin injection Levemir, leading to supply-chain shortages. This move has contributed to the growing crisis in insulin availability. As prices for insulin were capped by the Biden administration, a recent study by Yale University revealed that pharmaceutical companies have been charging significantly more than the cost to produce the drug. The exorbitant prices have left individuals like Murphy struggling to access life-saving medication.
As Novo Nordisk focuses on developing GLP-1 receptors, a more lucrative market, Eli Lilly is also ramping up production of competitors to Novo’s GLP-1 drugs. Despite the corporate rivalry, the shortage of essential medications continues to impact Americans like Murphy. The pharmaceutical industry’s supply chain issues, coupled with geopolitical and humanitarian crises, have further strained the availability of medications ranging from insulin to weight-loss drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic.
As the demand for semaglutide injections surges, Novo Nordisk faces challenges in meeting supply needs. The high cost of these medications has sparked outrage, with critics calling out the pharmaceutical giant for profiting off essential drugs. Despite the potential benefits of medications like Wegovy in reducing cardiovascular risks, the sky-high prices and supply shortages continue to hinder access for patients in need. The ongoing crisis underscores the urgent need for reforms in the pharmaceutical industry to ensure affordable and accessible healthcare for all.