California will begin offering its own brand of low-cost insulin in 2026, becoming the first state to contract for and sell an affordable version of the drug to residents, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Thursday.
Beginning Jan. 1, 2026, insulin glargine pens, a long-acting insulin analog used in the management of diabetes, will be available to consumers for no more than $55 for a five-pack of 3 mL pens, averaging $11 per pen.
“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. “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.”
The CalRx insulin glargine pens are interchangeable with Lantus, another long-acting insulin drug. California pharmacies can purchase the pens for $45.
The CalRx program stems from Newsom’s 2019 executive order directing the state to lower prescription drug costs and improve price transparency.
California previously launched a similar initiative for naloxone, the opioid overdose reversal medication.
Newsom has signed related measures to curb drug costs, including legislation capping insulin copays at $35 per month and tightening regulations on pharmacy benefit managers.
The post California to become first state to sell cheap insulin through state-backed program appeared first on KTLA.
