The value of fast-acting insulin aspart compared with insulin aspart for patients with diabetes mellitus treated with bolus insulin from a UK health care system perspective

BACKGROUND: Fast-acting insulin aspart is a new formulation of the rapid-acting insulin analogue insulin aspart and represents an advancement over current rapid-acting insulin analogues in terms of onset of action and postprandial glucose control. The objective of the current analysis was to demonstrate the cost impact of prescribing fast-acting insulin aspart instead of insulin aspart, to highlight the value of fast-acting insulin aspart for the treatment of people with diabetes requiring mealtime insulin. METHODS: A cost-impact analysis was conducted from the perspective of the UK National Health Service (NHS). The analysis excluded patients’ out-of-pocket expenses, carers’ costs and lost productivity. The time horizon of the analysis was 1 year, and no discounting was therefore applied. RESULTS: The displacement of insulin aspart with fast-acting insulin aspart is cost neutral for the UK NHS. Fast-acting insulin aspart is at price parity to insulin aspart in terms of the vial and Penfill(®) cartridge and is available in the FlexTouch(®) pen at the same price as the insulin aspart FlexPen(®) (and thus cheaper than the insulin aspart FlexTouch(®) pen). Patients using the insulin aspart FlexPen(®) will be upgraded to the FlexTouch(®) pen device, which is preferred by patients and healthcare professionals, on switching to fast-acting insulin aspart, at no additional cost. CONCLUSIONS: Fast-acting insulin aspart offers additional clinical benefit but at no additional cost when compared with insulin aspart, and thus provides value to the UK NHS.