Communities in Metro Detroit have banded together to sue big pharma over insulin prices.
The lawsuit claims pharmaceutical companies ripped patients off for years.
According to a 2021 national study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 38.4 million people in our country have diabetes, which is nearly 12% of the United States population.
That makes insulin one of the most essential drugs on the market. And according to a new lawsuit, one is subject to a severe price-gouging scheme.
“With a coupon, it’s like $800, so it’s very expensive,” said Angela Moye.
Moye, the director of shelters for Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries, says she’s had to make some tough choices because of the price of insulin.
“Sometimes I’ll have to be like the medicine is important, but also good to feed my kid,” Moye said.
She’s not the only one making tough decisions, as one in six Detroiters has diabetes. That’s why Detroit is partnering with Macomb, Monroe, Wayne, and Washtenaw counties to file a federal lawsuit officially over an alleged illegal insulin pricing scheme.
Melvin Butch Hollowell is one of the attorneys involved.
“The price of insulin has gone up 1,500% in the last 20 years,” said Hollowell.
The 146-page complaint alleges that the largest drug manufacturers in the world have been partnering with pharmacy management companies to artificially inflate the price of medicine, taking advantage of the people who need it the most.
“We want injunctive relief and damages for all the money that got spent, the millions and millions of dollars because of them getting together in private and in secret, and we have the evidence that they did that,” Hollowell said.
Mark Bernstein and others are demanding that the companies lower the cost and pay back those who have been robbed.
“On behalf of our clients, we want our money back for the cost that they shouldn’t have paid to buy these medicines,” Bernstein said.
The lawsuit is similar to what’s been done before with the opioid crisis, where a lawsuit was filed.
Local 4 reached out to all the companies listed on the lawsuit, but we have not heard back.
