Copyright Santa Clarita Valley Signal
By Aldgra Fredly Contributing Writer California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced last week that the state would start selling its own brand of affordable insulin pens next year to improve access to essential medication across the state. The insulin pens will be sold under the state’s CalRx brand for $11 per pen or $55 per five-pack, with sales expected to begin on Jan. 1, 2026, according to a statement from the governor’s office. This follows an agreement reached by California with drug manufacturer Civica and biopharmaceutical company Biocon Biologics in 2023 to produce its own affordable insulin. “California didn’t wait for the pharmaceutical industry to do the right thing — we took matters into our own hands,” Newsom said in the statement. “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.” Insulin pens are medical devices that allow people with diabetes to inject insulin into their bodies. CalRx pens are interchangeable with insulin glargine, a long-acting insulin analog used to help manage blood sugar levels in people with diabetes, according to the governor’s office. Newsom stated that California pharmacies will be able to buy CalRx pens for $45 for a pack of five pens and sell them to consumers at a suggested retail price of no more than $55 per pack. Meanwhile, Civica announced on Thursday that it will also distribute its insulin pens to pharmacies across the United States. In California, the product will be marketed under the state’s CalRx brand through its partnership with the state government, the company stated. “Civica will provide insulin glargine at a single low, transparent price, without the hidden rebates and unfair markups that harm consumers,” Civica President and CEO Ned McCoy said in a statement. The initiative in California is expected to lower insulin prices by about 90%, potentially saving patients between $2,000 and $4,000 per year, the governor said in 2023. Newsom also recently signed legislation that limits consumer cost-sharing for insulin at $35 for a month-long supply in the state, according to his office. The American Diabetes Association commended the governor’s decision to cap cost-sharing for insulin, noting that the measure will provide “much-needed financial relief” for people with diabetes in the state. The organization estimates that roughly 3.5 million adults in California are living with diabetes. “For far too long, many Americans with diabetes have made the difficult decision to ration this lifesaving medication to pay for other necessities, such as groceries or rent,” ADA State Government Affairs Director Christine Fallabel said in a statement.
