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A DiabetesTeam Member asked a question πŸ’­
Rocky Face, GA

I'm sure Hkc and GrahamLamb will know this, without googling.

June 4, 2024
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Answer Summary

Members enthusiastically engaged in a trivia discussion about insulin's discovery, sharing detailed knowledge about its 1921 isolation by... Read more

Members enthusiastically engaged in a trivia discussion about insulin's discovery, sharing detailed knowledge about its 1921 isolation by Frederick Banting and John Best at the University of Toronto from experimental dogs, its first patient use in 1922, and the evolution from animal-sourced insulin to modern synthetic versions created from E. coli bacteria in 1978. Several members highlighted the deeply troubling disparity in insulin pricing, noting that despite the patent being sold for just one dollar in 1923 to ensure widespread access, the US now has the highest insulin costs in the world at nearly five times the global average, forcing some people to choose between lifesaving medication and food. A recurring theme was both celebration of this groundbreaking medical discovery that has saved countless lives over the past century and frustration with pharmaceutical companies for making an essential medication unaffordable for many who desperately need it.

A DiabetesTeam Member

Just to add to the Trivia - and yes, was isolated at the University of Toronto by Banting/Best, experimenting on dogs in 1921

The first patient to receive it in 1922 was a young man "on his death bed" - that was the old approval process ("the guy is going to die anyhow so try the drug on him")

The "formula" was given to Eli Lilly (ya the big drug maker) to produce in volume with the understanding that they would provide the product "at cost"

Of course they changed one molecule, got a US Patent and start jacking the price

All the first insulins were animal sourced from Cows and Pigs and in fact, NPH an intermediate insulin, is the only legacy one still on the market as an animal sourced insulin

The newer insulins are now either near fully synthetic or are actual human insulin (grown) through a "recumbent process"

So just like the CSI shows but instead of a piece of DNA they take a "drip" of human insulin and grow it into a whole barrel load, in a lab of course

Today 3 Companies, Novo Nordisk (started production in 1923), Sanofi (first produced in 1973) and Eli Lilly (original producer plus introduced Human Recumbent Insulin in 1982) have the insulin market cornered

The US has the "highest" insulin prices in the world by miles

$100 worth of Insulin in the US only costs $21 in Mexico, the SECOND Highest Price in the World - let that sink in for a moment

In Turkey, it's the site of the "blue light special" (remember K-Mart) 😁 where the same vial cost's a mere $2.64 US of course 😁

(in Canada we are just on 12 bucks - the Global Average is $12.06)

June 4, 2024 (edited)
A DiabetesTeam Member

Correct. I knew it was extracted from a dog. They do have a lot of human like diseases. I knew you would know. Insulin has been around for over 100 years. Saving countless lives. I want to applaud those guys for their awesome break through,saving so many livesπŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘

June 4, 2024
A DiabetesTeam Member

Researchers at the University of Toronto 1921. "Invented" is imprecise. It was discovered in that year and developed from there onwards ....

June 4, 2024 (edited)
A DiabetesTeam Member

@A DiabetesTeam Member
Your welcome. The more we understand our condition and its effects,the better off we are.

June 4, 2024
A DiabetesTeam Member

Please read Diabetes, brain fog and memory loss on Nan22s post. Thank you

June 4, 2024

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