Michigan Supreme Court permits state probe into Eli Lilly insulin pricing

A divided Michigan Supreme Court on Friday ruled that the state attorney general can move forward with an investigation into Eli Lilly’s insulin pricing.

The 4-to-3 decision overturned a lower-court order that had blocked the probe, allowing Attorney General Dana Nessel to rely on state consumer-protection statutes.

The investigation, which began four years ago, alleges that Lilly set "grossly" excessive prices for three insulin products – Lispro, Humalog and Basaglar – leading some patients to ration insulin, cut their diets or switch to less effective alternatives.

The court’s ruling could increase scrutiny of insulin pricing practices and may have broader implications for drug-price litigation across the United States.