A Message from NCTracks on Behalf of NC Medicaid NEW EFFECTIVE DATE: Lantus vial and Lantus SoloStar Will Remain Preferred Until 2/17/23

The insulin glargine vial and insulin glargine Solostar® (authorized biologic for Lantus®) will be added as Preferred on the NC Medicaid Preferred Drug List (PDL), effective January 27, 2023.

The Lantus vial and Lantus® SoloStar will remain preferred until shifting to Non-Preferred status, effective February 17, 2023.

Per the current PDL guidelines, this off-cycle change has been deemed necessary due to significant financial implications to the State.

Insulin glargine vial/Solostar® is manufactured by Winthrop, a subsidiary of Sanofi (the manufacturer of Lantus) and is classified as an “unbranded biologic” by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It is considered by the FDA to be equivalent to Lantus because it is the same product as Lantus under the same Biologics Licensing Application (BLA). As such, the pharmacy would be allowed to substitute the generic without prescriber approval or obtaining a new prescription. More information from the FDA on this equivalency can be found here.