Is There a Generic Version of Humulin 50/50?
As of July 2009, Eli Lilly and Company has decided to stop producing Humulin 50/50 due to low product demand. It is estimated that current supplies of the medication may last until April 2010. If you are currently taking Humulin 50/50, your healthcare provider will need to switch you to one of the other types of insulin.
Humulin
® 50/50 (NPH
insulin/
regular insulin) is a
diabetes medication that is available without a prescription (it is one of the few non-prescription forms of insulin). Humulin 50/50 contains 50 percent regular insulin (a short-acting insulin) and 50 percent NPH insulin (an intermediate-acting insulin). It contains a higher percentage of regular insulin, compared to
Humulin 70/30.
Humulin 50/50 is made by Eli Lilly and Company. At this time, there are no generic versions of any insulin products, including Humulin 50/50. There are other mixed insulins available, but none of them are equivalent to Humulin 50/50 (and probably more importantly, none of them are generic medications).
Obstacles to Generic Insulin
At this point, it is impossible to predict when (or even if) a generic version of Humulin 50/50 may become available.
Like all insulins, Humulin 50/50 is considered a "biologic" medication. As a result, it is regulated by different rules and laws than most other medications. At this point, generic biologics, including generic Humulin 50/50, are not allowed to be manufactured in the United States. Currently, legislation is underway that may change the laws concerning generic biologics, but it is not clear when (or even if) this may happen.
