Californians will be able to buy low-cost, state-branded insulin next year, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Thursday. <\/p>\n
The CalRX<\/a> \u2013 California’s program to develop and sell its own prescription medications \u2013 pens will be available to purchase for Californians starting Jan. 1, 2026. <\/p>\n “California didn’t wait for the pharmaceutical industry to do the right thing \u2014 we took matters into our own hands,” Newsom said in a statement Thursday. <\/p>\n Newsom’s office is touting the CalRX suggested retail price of no more than $55 for a pack of five 3-mL pens, coming out to about $11 a pen. <\/p>\n “By beginning the process to manufacture our own insulin and pricing it at a maximum cost of $11 a pen in a five-pack, California and Civica are showing the nation what it looks like to put people over profits,” Newsom stated.<\/p>\n Newsom and California leaders have been\u00a0<\/a>advocating<\/a>\u00a0for years for the state to produce its own insulin to lower the cost of the drug. The low-cost insulin California plans on making available comes after the state struck an agreement with nonprofit drug manufacturer Civica Rx and Biocon Biologics. <\/p>\n The governor also recently signed Senate Bill 40<\/a>, a law that caps insulin cost-sharing at $35 for a month’s supply in California. <\/p>\n