Updated: January 25, 2026

Insulin Glargine Shortage Update: What Patients Need to Know in 2026

Author

Peter Daggett

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Current Status as of Early 2026
The Semglee Discontinuation: What It Means for You
The Basaglar Tempo Pen Discontinuation
Good News: New Products and Falling Prices
What Patients Should Do Right Now
Related Resources

The Insulin Glargine market was rocked by Semglee's discontinuation in late 2025. Here's the full shortage timeline and what patients need to do right now.

The Insulin Glargine market is going through significant change in 2026. If you're a patient relying on Lantus, Basaglar, or another glargine product to manage your diabetes, here is the complete picture of what's happening — and what you need to do to protect your medication supply.

Current Status as of Early 2026

Brand Lantus (insulin glargine, Sanofi) is not in a formal FDA-listed shortage as of early 2026. Sanofi has confirmed that Lantus vials and SoloStar pens remain in production and are being distributed. However, the broader Insulin Glargine market has been significantly disrupted by recent events, and some patients are experiencing difficulty filling prescriptions at specific pharmacies.

The FDA Drug Shortages database tracks individual products — including specific NDC codes for pen injectors and vials. Some Insulin Glargine products may appear on that database even while others remain available. Always check the FDA website for the most current official status.

The Semglee Discontinuation: What It Means for You

The single biggest disruption to the Insulin Glargine market in 2025–2026 was the discontinuation of Semglee. Here's the timeline:

2021: FDA approved Semglee (insulin glargine-yfgn, Biocon/Viatris) as the first interchangeable biosimilar to Lantus
2022–2024: Semglee became the preferred Insulin Glargine product on many insurance formularies due to lower cost
Mid-2025: Semglee began experiencing supply constraints; ASHP reported ongoing availability issues
August 2025: Regional shortages of Semglee intensified, particularly in the Pacific Northwest and Northeast
December 31, 2025: Biocon formally discontinued Semglee vials and pens — product is no longer available
January–June 2026: Demand shifted to brand Lantus, Basaglar, Rezvoglar, and generic Insulin Glargine; insurance plans updating formularies in real-time

The Basaglar Tempo Pen Discontinuation

A second disruption affects Basaglar users specifically. Eli Lilly announced in late 2025 that it is discontinuing the Basaglar Tempo pen by the end of 2026. Tempo pens are available through July 27, 2026. After that date, patients using Tempo pens should transition to the Basaglar KwikPen or another insulin glargine product. Lilly recommends patients work with their healthcare provider to switch as soon as possible rather than waiting until supply runs out.

Good News: New Products and Falling Prices

Despite these disruptions, several positive developments are improving the Insulin Glargine landscape in 2026:

Langlara approved: A new interchangeable biosimilar (insulin glargine-aldy) was FDA-approved on May 4, 2026, adding supply options
Sanofi price reductions: Sanofi cut the Lantus list price by 78% in 2023-2024 and expanded the Valyou Savings Program to all U.S. patients at $35/month starting January 1, 2026
Medicare cap: The Inflation Reduction Act caps insulin at $35/month for Medicare Part D patients
Price decline trend: Average sales prices for glargine products have dropped more than 30% since 2022, according to industry data

What Patients Should Do Right Now

If you were on Semglee, contact your doctor immediately for a new prescription for an equivalent product.
If you're on Basaglar Tempo pens, talk to your doctor about switching to Basaglar KwikPen before July 27, 2026.
Enroll in the Sanofi Valyou Savings Program to ensure you pay no more than $35/month for Lantus or Toujeo.
Refill your prescription as soon as your insurance allows — don't wait until you're on your last few doses.
Use medfinder.com to find pharmacies near you that have your specific Insulin Glargine product in stock.

See our guide to alternatives to Insulin Glargine and how to find Insulin Glargine in stock near you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Brand Lantus is not in a formal FDA shortage as of early 2026. However, the market has been disrupted by the discontinuation of Semglee (December 31, 2025) and the upcoming phase-out of Basaglar Tempo pens (July 2026). Patients may experience intermittent availability issues at certain pharmacies, especially for pen formulations.

Semglee (insulin glargine-yfgn), manufactured by Biocon Biologics, was formally discontinued effective December 31, 2025. Both Semglee vials and pen injectors were discontinued. Patients previously on Semglee need new prescriptions for a replacement product.

Eli Lilly is discontinuing the Basaglar Tempo pen by the end of 2026, with Tempo pens available through July 27, 2026. Basaglar Tempo pen users should contact their healthcare provider as soon as possible to transition to the Basaglar KwikPen or another insulin glargine product before Tempo supply runs out.

After Sanofi's 78% list price reduction in 2023–2024, Lantus costs approximately $80–$100 per vial or box of pens at list price in 2026. With the Sanofi Valyou Savings Program (expanded to all U.S. patients as of January 1, 2026), patients pay no more than $35 per month. Medicare patients are capped at $35/month under the Inflation Reduction Act.

The situation is stabilizing. Brand Lantus supply is intact, and new biosimilars like Langlara (approved May 2026) are entering the market. The main disruption — the Semglee discontinuation — is largely resolved as insurance plans update formularies. However, localized stocking issues at individual pharmacies may continue for some time.

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