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 (R) cartridge and is available in the FlexTouch (R) pen at the same price as the insulin aspart FlexPen (R) (and thus cheaper than the insulin aspart FlexTouch (R) pen). Patients using the insulin aspart FlexPen (R) will be upgraded to the FlexTouch (R) 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.