Question 1

What is Insulin Degludec used for?

Accepted Answer

Insulin Degludec replaces or supplements natural insulin to control blood sugar in diabetes.

Question 2

Is there a generic for Insulin Degludec?

Accepted Answer

No. Insulin Degludec is brand-only with no generic equivalents currently in market.

Question 3

How much does my plan pay for Insulin Degludec?

Accepted Answer

Across 329 Part D plans, Insulin Degludec averages $13.60/unit (NADAC). Lowest available: $9.02/unit. Highest in distribution: $22.72/unit.

Question 4

Is Insulin Degludec on the FDA shortage list?

Accepted Answer

Insulin Degludec has been discontinued by its manufacturer(s).

Question 5

What drug class is Insulin Degludec in?

Accepted Answer

Insulin Degludec is in the Insulin Analog class. See related drugs in this class at /class/insulin-analog.

Question 6

What is the brand name for Insulin Degludec?

Accepted Answer

Insulin Degludec is sold under the brand name TRESIBA.

Question 7

Is TRESIBA the same as Insulin Degludec?

Accepted Answer

Yes. TRESIBA is a brand name for Insulin Degludec. The generic version is identical in active ingredient, dose, and FDA-approved indications. Pricing differs substantially: generic Insulin Degludec typically prices well below brand TRESIBA.

Question 8

How much does Medicare spend on Insulin Degludec per year?

Accepted Answer

Medicare Part D spent $2.69B on Insulin Degludec in CY2024, across 3.5M prescriptions and 1.2M unique beneficiaries.

Question 9

Why is Insulin Degludec on Tier 3 across most plans?

Accepted Answer

Insulin Degludec appears on Tier 3 in 184 plan-NDC pairs and Tier 1 in only 57. The reason is structural: PBM rebate guarantees on brand-tier placement reduce the PBM's incentive to move the molecule to a lower tier even when generic competition exists. Moving to Tier 1 is typically possible only at plan-year reset or via contract renegotiation.

Question 10

What can I switch to instead of Insulin Degludec?

Accepted Answer

Same-class alternatives include: Diluent, Insulin Aspart, Insulin Aspart Injection. Whether substitution is clinically appropriate depends on patient indication, dose schedule, and contraindications — that is a P&T committee decision. The federal data shows cost and competition; clinical equivalence is not asserted here.

Question 11

When was Insulin Degludec first FDA approved?

Accepted Answer

Insulin Degludec received its first FDA approval on 2015-09-25.

Insulin Degludec (TRESIBA)

$2.69B in CY2024 Part D spend3.5M claims · 1.2M beneficiaries · 329 plans surveyed

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