Table 1.

Estimated prices for insulins

Compound	Price of API per kilogram (US$)	Typical dose per day* (mg)	API cost per day (US$)	Estimated cost of production for 10 mL (1000 units) phial (US$)	Estimated price for 10 mL (1000 units) phial (US$)	Estimated price per year (US$)*
Regular human insulin	24 750	1.40	0.03	2.28–3.37	3.29–4.86	48–71
Insulin NPH	23 282	1.56	0.04	2.32–3.42	3.35–4.93	49–72
Glargine	68 757	1.46	0.10	3.69–5.13	5.32–7.38	78–108
Lispro	100 000	1.40	0.14	4.52–6.16	6.51–8.87	95–130
Aspart	100 000	1.40	0.14	4.51–6.16	6.50–8.86	95–129
Glulisine	100 000	1.40	0.14	4.47–6.11	6.44–8.80	94–128
Detemir	100 000	5.68	0.57	13.47–17.35	19.40–24.99	283–365
Degludec	100 000	1.46	0.15	4.66–6.34	6.71–9.13	98–133

*Assuming 40 units used per patient per day.

API, active pharmaceutical ingredient; NPH, neutral protamine Hagedorn.