US insulin brands in 2026 span five main categories — rapid-acting, short-acting regular, intermediate NPH, long-acting basal, and premixed — plus inhaled Afrezza. Major rapid brands include Humalog, NovoLog, Fiasp, and Lyumjev. Long-acting basals include Lantus, Tresiba, Toujeo, and biosimilars Basaglar and Semglee. Levemir (detemir) was discontinued in late 2024. Biosimilars (Admelog, Basaglar, Semglee) offer lower-cost alternatives to originator brands at clinical equivalence. Walmart ReliOn NPH and Regular remain the cheapest at about $25 per vial.
Rapid-Acting Insulins
| Brand | Generic | Maker | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Humalog | Lispro | Eli Lilly | Rapid | U-100 and U-200 strengths; pens and vials |
| Admelog | Lispro | Sanofi | Rapid biosimilar | Interchangeable with Humalog per FDA |
| NovoLog | Aspart | Novo Nordisk | Rapid | U-100 vials, FlexPen, cartridges |
| Fiasp | Faster aspart | Novo Nordisk | Ultra-rapid | Can inject at first bite or during meal |
| Apidra | Glulisine | Sanofi | Rapid | SoloStar pen or vial |
| Lyumjev | Faster lispro | Eli Lilly | Ultra-rapid | Can inject at first bite |
Onset 10 to 20 minutes (ultra-rapid 2 to 10 minutes), peak 1 to 2 hours, duration 3 to 5 hours.
Short-Acting (Regular) Insulins
| Brand | Generic | Maker | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Humulin R | Regular | Eli Lilly | Rx; U-100 and U-500 |
| Novolin R | Regular | Novo Nordisk | Rx and OTC (some states) |
| ReliOn Novolin R (Walmart) | Regular | Walmart-branded Novolin | OTC; ~$25/vial |
Onset 30 to 60 minutes, peak 2 to 4 hours, duration 5 to 8 hours. Less commonly used than rapid analogs but still widely available and cheaper.
Intermediate-Acting (NPH) Insulins
| Brand | Generic | Maker | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Humulin N | NPH | Eli Lilly | Rx |
| Novolin N | NPH | Novo Nordisk | Rx and OTC (some states) |
| ReliOn Novolin N (Walmart) | NPH | Walmart-branded Novolin | OTC; ~$25/vial |
Onset 1 to 2 hours, peak 4 to 12 hours, duration 12 to 18 hours. Cloudy solution that must be gently rolled, not shaken, to resuspend.
Long-Acting Basal Insulins
| Brand | Generic | Maker | Duration | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lantus | Glargine | Sanofi | ~24 hr | Originator glargine; SoloStar pen or vial |
| Basaglar | Glargine | Eli Lilly | ~24 hr | Biosimilar of Lantus; KwikPen |
| Semglee | Glargine | Viatris/Biocon | ~24 hr | Biosimilar; FDA-designated interchangeable with Lantus |
| Toujeo | Glargine U-300 | Sanofi | ~36 hr | Concentrated; flatter profile than Lantus |
| Tresiba | Degludec | Novo Nordisk | 42 hr | Ultra-long; most forgiving of missed doses |
| Levemir (discontinued) | Detemir | Novo Nordisk | 20–24 hr | US supply ended late 2024 |
Premixed Insulins
| Brand | Mix | Maker |
|---|---|---|
| Humalog Mix 75/25 | 75% lispro protamine + 25% lispro | Eli Lilly |
| Humalog Mix 50/50 | 50/50 split | Eli Lilly |
| NovoLog Mix 70/30 | 70% aspart protamine + 30% aspart | Novo Nordisk |
| Humulin 70/30 | 70% NPH + 30% regular | Eli Lilly |
| Novolin 70/30 | 70% NPH + 30% regular | Novo Nordisk |
| ReliOn Novolin 70/30 (Walmart) | Same as Novolin 70/30 | Walmart-branded |
| Ryzodeg 70/30 | 70% degludec + 30% aspart | Novo Nordisk |
Inhaled Insulin
- Afrezza (insulin human inhalation powder): MannKind Corporation
- Ultra-rapid — onset 12 minutes, duration 3 hours
- Used before meals for pediatric and adult patients with diabetes
- Requires lung function testing before initiation; contraindicated in asthma and COPD
- An alternative for patients who cannot or will not inject mealtime insulin
Concentrated Insulins
- Humulin R U-500: 5 times the concentration of standard U-100; for patients needing more than 200 units/day
- Humalog U-200: twice the concentration of U-100 lispro; available in KwikPen
- Tresiba U-200: twice concentration of U-100 degludec; for higher doses in a smaller volume
- Toujeo U-300: 3 times the concentration of U-100 glargine
Concentrated insulins are not interchangeable unit-for-unit with standard U-100 — always follow the pen or vial markings.
Biosimilars and Follow-On Insulins
| Biosimilar | Reference | Maker | Typical Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Admelog | Humalog (lispro) | Sanofi | 15–30% lower list price |
| Basaglar | Lantus (glargine) | Eli Lilly | 15–25% lower list price |
| Semglee | Lantus (glargine) | Viatris/Biocon | 20–30% lower list price; FDA-designated interchangeable |
| Rezvoglar | Lantus (glargine) | Eli Lilly | Budget option |
FDA-approved biosimilars are clinically equivalent to the reference product. Some plans prefer biosimilars in their formulary tier.
Cost Landscape in 2026
- Walmart ReliOn NPH / Regular / 70/30 — approximately $25 per vial; OTC where allowed
- Biosimilar basal (Basaglar, Semglee) — typically $100 to $200 per vial at retail
- Brand-name analog (Humalog, Lantus, Tresiba) — $200 to $400 per vial at retail
- Medicare Part D: $35 per month cap per insulin (Inflation Reduction Act 2022)
- Manufacturer savings: Humalog, Lyumjev, Basaglar, Lantus, NovoLog, Tresiba all have patient assistance or savings cards; check each manufacturer’s website
- Lilly Insulin Value Program: $35 per month cap for Humalog, Lyumjev, and Basaglar for most patients regardless of insurance
- Novo Nordisk $35 cap: for Humalog, Novolin, NovoLog, Fiasp, Tresiba through patient assistance
Discontinued or Limited Products
- Levemir (detemir): Novo Nordisk discontinued US supply in late 2024
- Apidra (glulisine): still available but less widely stocked than Humalog or NovoLog
- Relion insulins: available only at Walmart and Sam’s Club
- Some older premixes are being phased out as NPH-based mixes lose popularity to analog basal + bolus
How to Choose
- If starting basal-bolus: typical combination is a long-acting (Tresiba or glargine) plus a rapid (lispro, aspart)
- If uninsured and need emergency basal: ReliOn NPH at Walmart
- If pump therapy: typically rapid-acting fills the reservoir; check your pump’s approved insulins
- If cost is primary concern: ask clinician about biosimilars (Semglee for glargine, Admelog for lispro)
- If you miss doses often: Tresiba’s 42-hour duration is most forgiving
- If needs change day-to-day: basal-bolus flexibility over premixed
Related Reading
See our guides on treatment options and prediabetes 101.
The Bottom Line
US insulin brands in 2026 span rapid-acting (Humalog, NovoLog, Apidra, Fiasp, Lyumjev), short-acting regular, intermediate NPH, long-acting basal (Lantus, Tresiba, Toujeo, Basaglar, Semglee), premixed, and inhaled (Afrezza). Levemir was discontinued in late 2024. Biosimilars (Admelog, Basaglar, Semglee) are clinically equivalent and typically cheaper. ReliOn insulins at Walmart remain the cheapest at about $25 per vial. Medicare Part D caps insulin at $35 per month. Work with your clinician and pharmacist to pick the brand that balances effectiveness, insurance coverage, and cost.
