Pharmaceutical company Sanofi has joined its peers Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk in capping the cost of several of its insulin products at $35 per month. The drug makers have been under increasing political pressure to do so since the Inflation Reduction Act passed last year. One part of this act capped insulin prescriptions at that same $35/month for Medicare recipients.

President Biden increased the pressure on these companies during his State of the Union address last month. He argued that average Americans need economic relief, and that responsible corporate citizens should lead the way. It is no coincidence that the country’s three largest insulin makers have responded in this way to his exhortations. And don’t feel too bad for the drug companies. They all reported net profits of between 3.11 and 7.82 billion dollars in 2022. They can afford to cap these insulin prices.

According to the CDC and the American Diabetes Association, over 37 million Americans have diabetes. For uninsured people with type 1 diabetes, a month’s worth of insulin can cost up to $1,000. It averages $123 per month across the country. An out-of-pocket cap of $35 per month will not only save money for regular Americans, but it will save lives, too. A recent study found that between 15-18% of diabetics regularly skipped insulin doses or took less than prescribed. Hopefully these price caps will put an end to this dangerous practice.

At its best, politics improves the health, wealth, and well-being of all citizens. The three drug companies decided to cap their insulin prices because of legislation passed by Democrats, and the President’s skillful use of the bully pulpit to hold them to account. Democrats back up their pro working folks rhetoric with action. Can you say the same thing for the other party?