Lilly Diabetes Solution Center Now Open to Help People with Insulin Affordability

Starting today, people can dial (833) 808-1234 to access potential cost savings on Lilly insulins

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Aug 01, 2018, 09:00 ET

INDIANAPOLIS, Aug. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Lilly Diabetes Solution Center, a new patient-focused helpline with representatives who will identify personalized solutions to address insulin affordability, is now available to residents in the U.S. and all U.S. territories. Beginning today, this suite of solutions will provide many options – some being offered for the first time – that can significantly lower and cap high monthly out-of-pocket costs for some people who use Lilly insulins such as Humalog^® (insulin lispro) and Humulin^®(insulin human injection). Dedicated representatives will review the personal circumstances and identify options for people who pay near the full list price, such as the uninsured and people in the deductible phase of their high-deductible insurance plans, as well as potential solutions for people with lower incomes.

"We don't want anyone to have to pay full list price for their insulin, and many people who do will be able to pay significantly less by calling our helpline," said Mike Mason, senior vice president, Connected Care and Insulins. "Our goal is to ensure that people paying high out-of-pocket costs for Lilly insulins are matched with the best solution available to reduce their financial burden and help ensure they receive the treatment they need."

Help is available at the Lilly Diabetes Solution Center by dialing (833) 808-1234, where people can talk to representatives between the hours of 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. (ET) Monday through Friday. Services will be offered in English, Spanish and several other languages. The helpline offers a range of new solutions for people with the greatest need including point-of-sale savings, information on accessing insulin through free clinics, and support for immediate needs.

Savings will vary based upon the individual circumstances of each person who calls the helpline. For people who already have co-pay or co-insurance plans, or are enrolled in Medicare Part D, the cost at the pharmacy may not change. 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. Lilly is promoting the helpline in a variety of ways including through paid advertising, social media and outreach to the diabetes community.

The following solutions are now available through the helpline:

Point of sale savings
The helpline will use a suite of solutions – including new offerings – to find answers for people who face the highest out-of-pocket costs at the pharmacy such as people who are uninsured and people in the deductible phase of their high-deductible commercial insurance plans. The solutions will be customizable and the amount of the reduction will vary person-to-person based upon their circumstances. The out-of-pocket costs for people who use traditional co-pay or co-insurance plans will continue to be set by their health insurer. Additionally, federal regulations prevent people who use Medicare Part D or other federal programs from obtaining additional point-of-sale savings.

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 representatives will point people toward clinics that are most convenient to them and provide information about how to obtain insulin at those locations. 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).

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.

"We encourage people who pay near full list price for insulin and those who don't have the financial means to afford the costs they face to call the helpline," Mason said. "We want to help people find ways to obtain insulin at more affordable prices."

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.

This press release contains forward-looking statements about the Lilly Diabetes Solution Center, a new patient-focused helpline with representatives who will identify personalized solutions to address insulin affordability, and reflects Lilly's current beliefs. There is no guarantee that this suite of solutions will significantly lower and cap high monthly out-of-pocket costs for some people who use Lilly insulins. For further discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties, see Lilly's most recent Form 10-K and Form 10-Q filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as required by law, Lilly undertakes no duty to update forward-looking statements to reflect events after the date of this release.

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