Today's skyrocketing cost of insulin is not what the genetic engineering revolution was supposed to bring. Here’s Eli Lilly in 1977, when scientists first figured out how to get E. coli to make insulin. From my book, “Microcosm”

Here’s an interesting piece on NPR from 2017 about the long-term rise in insulin prices

@carlzimmer It’s not just the expense of the drug. How does an insurance system that doesn’t make sure diabetics get insulin make sense? Why make them pay out of pocket until they their deductible.

@carlzimmer @jaketapper Sharing this here because my Mom is a diabetic and she takes insulin. So as you can imagine..this is one of many things she is thinking about. Or i am for her. Which is why I am sharing this for her.

@carlzimmer @jaketapper There isn’t a generic insulin. Article explains it, patent abuse. Once a generic is available prices will drop

@carlzimmer “Walmart—Novolin N (insulin)for just $25, says Jeremy A. Greene, M.D., Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. “Walmart has the cheapest insulin in the country. They use their muscle to demand a much lower price.” (Consumer Reports) #capitalismGood

@carlzimmer @aaronquinlan A complete failure of humanity

@carlzimmer So sad. Show this article then this photo to anyone who says the US can’t afford universal healthcare.

@carlzimmer @aaronquinlan This is disgraceful! I assume pumps would be out if the question for an uninsured American??

@carlzimmer But, it seems that the high prices are only in the USA. So the reason of high prices is related with internal economic issues and not with the technical advances

@carlzimmer The answer should be - the government steps in and regulates the price.

@carlzimmer Another reason to ”take control of your health”. -mercola.com

@carlzimmer I never understood why the richest & most scientifically advanced country on Earth lacks a public, free, universal Health coverage for all its citizens. The frequent US cases of people who get bankrupt because of medical bills & cost of drugs are hardly heard of in the EU

@carlzimmer @morgfair It's to bad pricing decision makers fur drugs like insulin can't be held criminally responsible for any deaths that occur due to unaffordable drug.

@carlzimmer There are places where free markets produce outcomes some consider morally undesirably. Life-or-death products are a place where willingness to pay is so high that price gouging is not only possible, but a winning strategy.

@carlzimmer @rphawg3150 My daughter is type 1 diabetic. This isn't something that can be reversed with diet and exercise. She has an insulin pump that pumps insulin through her body 24/7. She is a teacher. I max out my FSA card every year for her as does she. Still not enough

@carlzimmer @jaketapper Only in America.

@carlzimmer Price of #insulin in USA is just astonishing. In the UK I had a medical exemption certificate which meant I didn't have to pay for it. All #T1D get that in the UK. In Canada I have to pay, but at least it's a fairly reasonable cost which my insurance pays most of...

@carlzimmer @princesslalu617 It's funny. Everyone who rails about "socialized medicine" screams about rationed care. Like it ain't already rationed.