Hours before one of its top executives was set to testify at a House hearing on insulin prices, Sanofi introduced a program that will lower the drug's cost for some patients.
Under the plan, diabetes patients can buy up to 10 products, including vials and pens, for $99 per month. The plan applies to uninsured patients or those who pay cash for the drug in the U.S. The new program will begin in June.
Previously, one vial of insulin cost $99 and a box of pens cost $149. This means patients who needed multiple items often paid hundreds of dollars a month, according to CNBC.
The move comes as insulin manufacturers face intense pressure from Congress and the Trump administration to lower the cost of the 100-year-old, lifesaving medication.
It also came hours before the drugmaker was scheduled to testify before the House Energy and Commerce Committee on the rising price of insulin. Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk and three pharmacy benefit managers also are scheduled to testify.
According to Sanofi executives, the move isn't an attempt to please lawmakers.
"It is unacceptable to Sanofi that some people living with diabetes are struggling to pay for their insulin, so we have moved to act creatively and aggressively to help address affordability and access needs," said Michelle Carnahan, head of North America primary care at Sanofi.