When one of these companies increases the cost of insulin, the others often do too — within 24 hours. For example, there were at least 13 tandem prices increases between Sanofi and Novo Nordisk between 2009 and 2016.

Nearly every study agrees: the insulin cartel is raising prices dramatically.

Consider the case of Humalog, a kind of insulin sold by Eli Lilly. In 1996, Eli Lily sold a vial of Humalog for $21. Although nothing has changed about the product, Eli Lily now sells it for $275. Even if you account for rebates and discounts, Eli Lily has increased the net price of insulin by more than 500 percent!

The insulin cartel is a uniquely American phenomenon.

As a result, Americans pay far more for most kinds insulin of insulin than any other surveyed country — often several times over. This isn’t an accident. The uniquely dysfunctional American health care system allows the collusion and anticompetitive behavior that has padded Eli Lilly, Sanofi, and Novo Nordisk’s bottom lines at the expense of more than 20 million Americans who rely on insulin as a matter of life and death.

Government investigations and prosecutions could save lives.

The Federal Trade Commission has the power to end the insulin cartel’s control of the market — and bring relief to millions of Americans. They need to use it.