Newsom announces affordable insulin soon to be available for purchase

LOS ANGELES (KESQ) - California has become the first and only state to make its own affordable insulin, with the medication expected to be available for purchase starting Jan. 1., Gov. Gavin Newsom announced in Los Angeles today.

Through a state-backed deal with Civica Rx, a nonprofit generic drug manufacturer, and Biocon Biologics, California residents will have access to an interchangeable biosimilar insulin glargine pen offered under the CalRx brand and pricing, the governor said. Insulin glargine is a long-acting insulin analog used in the management of diabetes.  

The pens will be available to California pharmacies for $45 and to consumers at a suggested retail price of no more than $55 per five-pack of 3ml pens -- a substantial reduction from current retail prices, according to the governor's office.

"California didn't wait for the pharmaceutical industry to do the right thing -- we took matters into our own hands,'' Newsom said in a statement. "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.   

"No Californian should ever have to ration insulin or go into debt to stay alive -- and I won't stop until health care costs are crushed for everyone,'' Newsom added.  

The insulin glargine pen agreement with Biocon Biologics complements Civica Rx's broader insulin development strategy, according to the governor's office.

"In a moment where inflation is spiking everyday prices for Californians and our health care system is under attack in the form of Medicaid cuts from H.R. 1, a lower cost insulin will bring much needed relief both to California pocketbooks and our state budget,'' Chris Noble, Health Access California's organizing director and member of the CalRx Insulin Patient Advisory Council, said in a statement.

Noble noted that California consumers need relief now.   

"As a person dependent on insulin to live and a health care advocate, I'm relieved to see CalRx moving quickly to lower insulin costs for the people of California while continuing to pursue other needed prescription drug cost solutions,'' Noble said.

According to the governor's office, the launch of affordable insulin is part of a broader strategy Newsom led under his first executive order in 2019, which aimed to lower prescription drug costs.  

It also builds on the CalRx Naloxone Access Initiative, which makes accessible and affordable life-saving medication to reverse opioid overdoses.   

Newsom recently signed SB 40 and SB 41 into law -- capping consumer cost-sharing for insulin at $35 for a month-long supply and reducing drug prices by regulating the practices of pharmacy benefit managers, respectively.