{"id":76366,"date":"2025-10-16T17:11:29","date_gmt":"2025-10-17T00:11:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/?p=76366"},"modified":"2025-10-16T17:11:29","modified_gmt":"2025-10-17T00:11:29","slug":"governor-newsom-announces-affordable-calrx-insulin-11-a-pen-will-soon-be-available-for-purchase","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/?p=76366","title":{"rendered":"Governor Newsom announces affordable CalRx\u00ae insulin, $11 a pen, will soon be available for purchase"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n
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What you need to know:<\/strong>\u00a0Governor Newsom announced that California\u2019s CalRx\u00ae Insulin Glargine in pen form will be available to consumers for a suggested retail price of not more than $55 per five-pack of pens (average cost of $11 per pen) beginning January 1, 2026, reducing barriers to accessing this essential diabetes medication.<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
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SACRAMENTO<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0<\/span>As the first and only state contracting for its own affordable insulin, Governor Gavin Newsom today announced that CalRx\u00ae biosimilar insulin glargine pens will be available to consumers in California beginning January 1, 2026. This launch marks a significant step in the state’s ongoing effort to lower prescription drug prices and improve medication access statewide.<\/p>\n

Through an agreement secured by Civica Rx \u2014 a nonprofit generic drug manufacturer \u2014 with Biocon Biologics, Californians will have access to an interchangeable biosimilar insulin glargine pen offered under the CalRx brand and pricing.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cCalifornia didn\u2019t wait for the pharmaceutical industry to do the right thing \u2014 we took matters into our own hands. 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 \u2014 and I won\u2019t stop until health care costs are crushed for everyone.\u201d<\/h4>\n

<\/h4>\n
Governor Gavin Newsom<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
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Insulin glargine is a long-acting insulin analog used in the management of diabetes. The CalRx insulin glargine pens are interchangeable with Lantus\u00ae, ensuring seamless substitution for patients, and 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 3 mL pens\u2014a substantial reduction from current retail market prices.<\/p>\n

“We are grateful for the support of the state of California for our effort to bring affordable insulin to all Americans,”\u00a0said Ned McCoy, President and CEO of Civica.<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0“The state shares our vision to ensure a sustainable, quality supply of affordable, essential medicines for people who need them.”<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cToday\u2019s action marks a significant milestone in California\u2019s ongoing efforts to reduce prescription drug costs,”\u00a0said California Health and Human Services Agency Secretary Kim Johnson.<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cLowering the cost of insulin moves us closer to a California where no one is forced to choose between their health and their financial stability.\u201d<\/p>\n

The insulin glargine pen agreement with Biocon Biologics complements Civica Rx\u2019s broader insulin development strategy. Civica Rx continues its ongoing efforts to independently produce interchangeable biosimilar versions of insulin glargine and rapid-acting insulin under the CalRx label, further solidifying a reliable and affordable insulin supply for Californians.<\/p>\n

\u201cCalifornia is taking action to tackle the insulin affordability crisis,” said Elizabeth Landsberg, Director of the Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI).<\/strong>\u00a0“We\u2019re committed to transparent pricing, eliminating hidden costs, and ensuring equitable medication access for uninsured, underinsured, and vulnerable residents across our state.”<\/p>\n

\u201cIn 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,\u201d\u00a0said member Chris Noble, Health Access California\u2019s Organizing Director and member of the CalRx Insulin Patient Advisory Council.<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cCalifornia consumers need relief now, so as a person dependent on insulin to live and a health care advocate, I\u2019m 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCalifornia\u2019s continued leadership in tackling insulin\u2019s broken market is a promising step forward,\u201d\u00a0said Allison Hardt, T1 International\u2019s Community Development Director and member of the CalRx Advisory Council.<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cWe celebrate progress that puts patients first and secures insulin at a stable, transparent price while encouraging bold next steps toward true public manufacturing\u2014for people, not for profit.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
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CalRx initiative<\/h2>\n

The launch of CalRx-branded insulin is part of a broader strategy of the Governor\u2019s\u00a0first executive order<\/a>\u00a0in 2019 to lower prescription drug costs and ensure fair and transparent pricing is accessible to all Californians. To date, no other state has taken action to procure its own affordable medication available for purchase to the public to compete with market-priced products.<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s announcement\u00a0builds on the successes of the\u00a0CalRx Naloxone Access Initiative<\/a>, which has successfully\u00a0driven down<\/a>\u00a0the market price of naloxone, saving consumers money and helping the state purchase more of this life-saving medication to reverse opioid overdoses. The CalRx program continues to identify opportunities to make drugs more affordable and accessible in California.<\/p>\n

Leading the way on affordable health care<\/h2>\n

Governor Newsom recently signed significant legislation advancing health care affordability by lowering the cost of prescription drugs, including:<\/p>\n