Two medicines, side by side
Insulin glulisine vs insulin lispro
Insulin glulisine and insulin lispro are both labeled for type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. Pharmacies paid $8.16 per mL (Apidra 100 unit/mL vial) and $10.19 per mL (Insulin lispro 100 unit/mL kwikpen) (NADAC, October 7, 2026); one is a brand and one a generic, so the two prices are not like for like. How each works, in its label's words: Insulin glulisine, “Regulation of glucose metabolism is the primary activity of insulins and insulin analogs, including insulin glulisine.”; Insulin lispro, “Regulation of glucose metabolism is the primary activity of insulins and insulin analogs, including insulin lispro products.”
Check it at the source: the insulin glulisine FDA label on DailyMed (effective November 25, 2025); the insulin lispro FDA label on DailyMed (effective June 4, 2025).
Highlights of the insulin glulisine record
Insulin glulisine (Apidra) · label of November 25, 2025
Used for
From the label: indicationsAPIDRA is indicated to improve glycemic control in adult and pediatric patients with diabetes mellitus. APIDRA is a rapid-acting human insulin analog indicated to improve glycemic control in adult and pediatric patients with diabetes mellitus.
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- n/a
- Generic labelers
- none listed
- Pharmacy cost
- $8.16 per mL
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 0
Highlights of the insulin lispro record
Insulin lispro (Humalog) · label of June 4, 2025
Used for
From the label: indicationsADMELOG is indicated to improve glycemic control in adult and pediatric patients with diabetes mellitus. ADMELOG is a rapid-acting human insulin analog indicated to improve glycemic control in adult and pediatric patients with diabetes mellitus.
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- December 11, 2017
- Generic labelers
- none listed
- Pharmacy cost
- $10.19 per mL
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- A presentation being discontinued
- Recalls
- 4
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Insulin glulisine label of November 25, 2025, Insulin lispro label of June 4, 2025); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do insulin glulisine and insulin lispro differ on the record?
How each works, in its label's words: Insulin glulisine, “Regulation of glucose metabolism is the primary activity of insulins and insulin analogs, including insulin glulisine.”; Insulin lispro, “Regulation of glucose metabolism is the primary activity of insulins and insulin analogs, including insulin lispro products.”
Both are in FDA's class insulin analogs.
| Insulin glulisine | Insulin lispro | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Type 2 diabetes, Type 1 diabetes | Type 2 diabetes, Type 1 diabetes |
| Pharmacologic class | Insulin Analog | Insulin Analog |
| How it works (label) | Regulation of glucose metabolism is the primary activity of insulins and insulin analogs, including insulin glulisine. | Regulation of glucose metabolism is the primary activity of insulins and insulin analogs, including insulin lispro products. |
| Half-life (label) | After subcutaneous administration, insulin glulisine is eliminated more rapidly than regular human insulin with an apparent half-life of 42 minutes compared to 86 minutes. | n/a |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | n/a | December 11, 2017 |
| First generic approved | none | none |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | none listed | none listed |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $8.16 per mL (Apidra 100 unit/mL vial) | $10.19 per mL (Insulin lispro 100 unit/mL kwikpen) |
| 12-month price change | -0.1% | no change |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | A presentation being discontinued |
| Recalls recorded | 0 | 4 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 10,109 | 139,157 |
| DEA schedule | none | none |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Alternatives to insulin glulisine
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions