Search "Lantus SoloStar discontinued" right now and you'll get a mix of outdated blog posts, panicked forum threads, and at least one pharmacy tech who told a patient the wrong thing. The pen isn't gone. But if you've spent the last few weeks calling every pharmacy within twenty miles of your house, you already know that "not discontinued" and "available" aren't the same thing. Here's what's actually happening, why it looks like a discontinuation from where patients are standing, and what to do if you're at the counter with an empty bottle.
1. Is the SoloStar Pen Actually Discontinued?
No. Sanofi hasn't pulled Lantus SoloStar from the market and isn't winding the product down. What the company confirmed to STAT News, WRAL, and Becker's Hospital Review on July 23 and 24, 2026 is narrower: the 3 mL SoloStar pen is experiencing "a period of intermittent supply" in the U.S., driven by demand the company attributes to "broader market dynamics." Sanofi has been explicit that this is a temporary supply problem, not a product withdrawal.
The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) national drug shortage tracker lists Lantus SoloStar 3 mL pens as on intermittent back order, with Sanofi releasing supply as it becomes available. But the FDA's own Drug Shortages Database doesn't list Lantus at all. That distinction matters for paperwork and formulary rules. It does nothing for you if the pharmacy shelf in front of you is empty.
There's also a business reason to doubt the discontinuation theory. In its Q4 2024 earnings, Sanofi reported Lantus sales up more than 60% year over year, a jump the company described as "windfall sales due to the continued unavailability of a competing medicine." A drug company doesn't ramp up marketing around, and profit from, a product it's quietly killing off.
What's genuinely unaffected: Sanofi has confirmed that Lantus U-100 vials and Toujeo U-300, both of which contain the same active ingredient, remain available and can serve as backups. Vials tend to go to hospitals more than pens do, and pens go mostly to retail pharmacies, which is a big part of why patients are feeling this and hospitals mostly aren't.
2. Where the "Discontinued" Rumor Comes From
Three separate insulin glargine stories collided within about seven months, and online they've blurred into one big rumor. Only one of the three is a real, permanent discontinuation.
The real discontinuation: Semglee
Semglee (insulin glargine-yfgn), made by Biocon and marketed by Viatris, was the first FDA-approved interchangeable biosimilar to Lantus, cleared in 2021. Through 2022 to 2024, it picked up significant market share as insurers steered patients toward the lower-cost biosimilar. Then, on December 31, 2025, Biocon discontinued Semglee entirely — both the vial and the pen, for good. Every patient who had been filling Semglee needed a new insulin glargine product almost overnight. That's the actual discontinuation people half- remember when they ask if "Lantus" is being discontinued.
The unrelated discontinuation: Basaglar Tempo pens
Separately, Eli Lilly decided to stop making the Basaglar Tempo pen, its Bluetooth-connected injector, as a business decision unrelated to any supply problem. New Tempo pens stopped shipping after July 27, 2026. Patients who already have Tempo pens can keep using them until they expire. This has nothing to do with Lantus and doesn't affect standard Basaglar KwikPens, which are still being made and sold.
The thing that's actually just tight: Lantus SoloStar
Layer the SoloStar pen's temporary back order on top of two real discontinuations happening in the same product category within months of each other, and it's not hard to see how "insulin glargine is disappearing" became the headline in patient Facebook groups and forums, even though the flagship product itself was never going anywhere.
The short version: Semglee = gone for good. Basaglar Tempo pen = gone for good, but it's a niche connected-pen accessory, not the core insulin. Lantus SoloStar = hard to find right now, expected to ease, still in production.
3. Timeline: How Supply Got This Tight
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 2021 | FDA approves Semglee as the first interchangeable biosimilar to Lantus |
| 2022–2024 | Semglee gains significant market share as insurers favor the lower-cost biosimilar |
| 2023 | Sanofi announces a 78% Lantus list price cut, effective 2024, plus a $35/month commercial copay cap |
| Mid-2025 | Semglee itself starts experiencing regional supply constraints |
| Dec 31, 2025 | Biocon permanently discontinues Semglee vials and pens |
| Jan–Jun 2026 | Demand shifts to brand Lantus, Basaglar, Rezvoglar, and Toujeo; insurers revise formularies |
| Jul 23–24, 2026 | Sanofi confirms intermittent SoloStar pen supply to STAT, WRAL, and Becker's |
| Jul 27, 2026 | Lilly's last day shipping new Basaglar Tempo pens (unrelated business decision) |
| Aug 2026 | SoloStar pens remain on and off back order; vials, Basaglar, Rezvoglar, and Toujeo continue shipping |
4. What's Actually in Stock Right Now
| Product | Maker | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Lantus U-100 vials | Sanofi | Available |
| Lantus SoloStar pens | Sanofi | Intermittent back order |
| Basaglar KwikPen | Eli Lilly | Available |
| Basaglar Tempo pen | Eli Lilly | No new pens shipped after 7/27/26; usable until expiration |
| Rezvoglar | Eli Lilly | Available |
| Toujeo / Toujeo Max | Sanofi | Available (300 units/mL, different concentration) |
| Semglee (insulin glargine-yfgn) | Biocon | Discontinued 12/31/25 |
For the fullest supply and pricing picture across every Lantus format, see our Lantus Shortage 2026 guide, which tracks the situation product by product.
5. Why Sanofi Says Supply Is Tight
CVS told WRAL its pharmacists have been navigating intermittent Lantus supply challenges for several months and are working with prescribers to find alternatives when a store runs out. Sanofi says it has accelerated production, is expediting incoming stock, and is managing how existing pen inventory gets allocated across pharmacies. What the company hasn't done is give a firm date for supply to normalize. A spokesperson told Becker's that the company can't provide a definitive timeline for a full return to normal supply levels.
Part of the reason pens feel scarcer than vials comes down to where each product actually goes. Vials are used more in hospital and clinical settings; SoloStar pens are the format most commonly dispensed to patients through retail pharmacies. So the same production shortfall hits patients filling routine prescriptions much harder than it hits inpatient care.
6. Should You Switch or Wait It Out?
There's no universal right answer here. It depends on how much insulin you have left and how reliably your regular pharmacy has been getting shipments.
Switch now
- You stop gambling on whether your next fill shows up on time
- Basaglar and Rezvoglar use the same 100 units/mL strength, so many patients keep the same dose
- Vials paired with syringes are, at the moment, easier to find than pens
Switch now
- A new prescription may trigger a fresh prior authorization or formulary check
- Learning a new pen, or moving to vial-and-syringe technique, takes some adjustment
- Toujeo isn't a simple swap since it's three times more concentrated than Lantus
Wait it out
- Sanofi describes the issue as temporary and says shipments are still moving
- Nothing changes about a regimen that's already working for you
Wait it out
- Sanofi won't commit to a date for supply to normalize
- You have no backup plan if your next fill lands during a bad restock week
7. What to Use Instead
If your regular pen isn't on the shelf, a few other insulin glargine products are currently available. None of them are automatically interchangeable at the counter the way Semglee was explicitly designated — a new prescription or prescriber sign-off is typically required before switching.
| Alternative | Concentration | Key consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Lantus vials | 100 units/mL | Same product, same maker — often the fastest fix if your pharmacy just lacks the pen |
| Basaglar | 100 units/mL | Same active ingredient and strength as Lantus; often a straightforward switch under medical guidance |
| Rezvoglar | 100 units/mL | Another Lilly insulin glargine at the same concentration as Lantus |
| Toujeo | 300 units/mL | Not a 1:1 unit swap — requires a prescriber-guided dose adjustment |
Switching insulin products safely
Don't switch on your own, even between two products that sound interchangeable. Toujeo's higher concentration means the same number of "units" is a different physical volume than Lantus. Even a same-concentration switch, like Lantus to Basaglar, should be confirmed with your prescriber first, especially if your dose or timing has ever been adjusted. Call before your next fill if you already know your usual product is hard to find, rather than deciding at the pharmacy counter with no medication in hand.
8. What to Do the Day Your Pharmacy Says No
Call ahead, not the day you're empty
Call your pharmacy a few days before your next refill is due so you find out about a shortage while you still have time to act, not when you're standing at the counter.
Ask specifically about the vial
If the pen is out, ask whether the pharmacy has Lantus vials in stock. Since vials and pens move through different supply channels, one being available doesn't mean the other is.
Check two or three other pharmacies
Stock varies by chain and by location. A pharmacy ten minutes away may have what your usual one doesn't, even within the same city.
Call your prescriber's office before you're out
Give your prescriber time to consider an alternative product rather than making that call for you at the last minute, when your options are more limited.
Confirm coverage before you fill something new
Call your insurer or check your plan's current formulary before filling an alternative. Coverage tiers have shifted a lot since Semglee left the market. Our Medicare Part D 2026 changes guide covers how this plays out for Medicare patients specifically.
Never stretch a dose to make it last
If you're genuinely at risk of running out, contact your prescriber or pharmacist the same day rather than rationing on your own. Insulin dosing errors carry real health risks.
9. Decision Tree: What Should You Do Right Now?
If you're at real risk of running out, don't wait for a scheduled appointment. Reach your care team the same day rather than rationing doses.
Related: Ozempic Shortage 2026: Pharmacy Availability & Alternatives
Novo Nordisk is dealing with its own intermittent supply issues on a different product line. See what's currently in stock.
10. Paying for Lantus or an Alternative
Availability and cost are separate problems, and it's worth sorting out the second one before you need it. Two tiers of help exist: no-income-check savings cards for anyone with commercial insurance, and income-based patient assistance programs for people who are uninsured or underinsured.
No-income-check savings programs
If you have commercial insurance, the Sanofi Insulins Valyou Savings Program caps Lantus, Toujeo, Admelog, and Apidra at $35 for a 30-day supply, regardless of your insurance's own copay. Lilly runs a parallel program, the Lilly Insulin Value Program, which caps eligible Lilly insulins, including Basaglar, at $35 with no income check either. See our Lantus Savings Card guide and manufacturer copay card guide for enrollment details, and our breakdown of what Lantus costs without insurance if you're weighing cash prices against a coupon.
Income-based patient assistance programs
If you're uninsured, or your insurance doesn't cover the product you need, manufacturer patient assistance programs (PAPs) can provide medication at no cost based on household income. Here's how the main options compare.
| Program | Insurance required | Income check | Who it fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sanofi Patient Connection | Uninsured, or Medicare Part D with no access to the drug through your plan | Yes | Lantus/Toujeo patients with low income and no working coverage |
| Sanofi Insulins Valyou Program | Commercial insurance | No | Insured patients who just want the copay capped |
| Lilly Cares Foundation | Uninsured, or Medicare Part D | Yes | Basaglar patients with low income and no working coverage |
| Lilly Insulin Value Program | Any, including uninsured | No | Anyone who wants a flat $35 price at the pharmacy counter |
| Household size | 300% FPL | 400% FPL | 500% FPL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $47,880 | $63,840 | $79,800 |
| 2 people | $64,920 | $86,560 | $108,200 |
| 3 people | $81,960 | $109,280 | $136,600 |
| 4 people | $99,000 | $132,000 | $165,000 |
Sanofi Patient Connection and Lilly Cares (for Basaglar) both use the 400% FPL line. Alaska and Hawaii use separate, higher HHS guidelines, so call the program directly if you live in either state. These figures come from the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation and are updated every January.
| Program | Insulins typically covered |
|---|---|
| Sanofi Patient Connection | Lantus, Toujeo, Admelog, Apidra, Soliqua 100/33, Merilog |
| Sanofi Insulins Valyou Program | Lantus, Toujeo, Admelog, Apidra |
| Lilly Cares Foundation | Basaglar, Humalog, Lyumjev, Humulin |
| Lilly Insulin Value Program | Most Lilly insulins, including Basaglar |
How to apply
- Get a prescription and a completed prescriber section. Every PAP application needs your prescriber to sign off on medical necessity — applications without it get sent back.
- Gather proof of income if you're applying to an income-based program: recent tax return, pay stubs, or a signed statement of no income.
- Submit the application online through the program's site or by mail. Lilly Cares and Sanofi Patient Connection both accept applications completed jointly by patient and prescriber.
- Wait for review. Most manufacturer PAP applications take about two to four weeks once every section is complete — incomplete paperwork is the single biggest cause of delay.
- Receive your medication. Lilly Cares ships insulin directly to the patient rather than to the prescriber's office, which is different from how most of its other covered drugs are handled.
Approval timelines and renewal
Once a complete application is in, expect roughly two to four weeks for a decision. Lilly Cares approvals last 12 months for uninsured patients, or through the end of the current calendar year for patients enrolled through Medicare Part D, after which you'll need to reapply. Sanofi Patient Connection works on a similar annual cycle. Set a reminder before your approval expires, since a lapse means going back through the full application again rather than a quick renewal.
On Medicare? Under the Inflation Reduction Act, insulin is capped at $35 per month for Medicare Part D enrollees regardless of Extra Help (Low-Income Subsidy) status. See our Medicare Part D 2026 changes guide and can Medicare patients use patient assistance programs for how PAP eligibility intersects with Medicare specifically, and check Medicare.gov or CMS.gov for current program rules.
Beyond manufacturer programs, NeedyMeds and BenefitsCheckUp both maintain searchable directories of additional assistance programs by drug and by state. For a broader look at how these programs work in general, see what is a patient assistance program and our list of 12 programs that help pay for prescriptions. If cost, not availability, is your main issue right now, our insulin price comparison by brand and pharmacy and Inside Rx vs SingleCare comparison can help you find the cheapest route to whichever product is actually in stock. If your prescriber switches you to a product that requires prior authorization, our prior authorization guide walks through what that process typically involves. And if none of these programs fit, a 340B pharmacy may offer a lower cash price without an income application.
11. Mistakes That Make This Worse
- Treating "hard to find" as "discontinued." Assuming the pen is gone for good leads people to switch products unnecessarily, sometimes without checking with their prescriber first.
- Rationing doses to stretch a pen. This is the single riskiest response to a supply gap and can cause dangerous blood sugar swings.
- Switching to Toujeo unit-for-unit without asking. Because Toujeo is three times more concentrated, using your old Lantus dose number on Toujeo is not the same amount of insulin.
- Calling only one pharmacy. Stock varies enough between chains and even between locations of the same chain that one "no" doesn't mean the whole area is out.
- Waiting until the pen is empty to call your prescriber. A same-day decision under pressure is worse than a calm one made a few days ahead of time.
- Filling an alternative before checking your formulary. A product that isn't on your plan's preferred tier can trigger prior authorization or a much higher copay.