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The state of California is teaming up with the nonprofit generic drug maker Civica Rx and Biocon Biologics to offer an interchangeable biosimilar insulin glargine pen for $11 beginning January 1, 2026. The CalRx-branded insulin glargine pens will be interchangeable with Lantus, allowing for a seamless substitution for patients with diabetes.
$55 Per Pack of Five Pens
The pens will be available to consumers at a suggested retail price of no more than $55 per pack of five 3-mL pens; California pharmacies will pay $45.
This program is part of an overall effortto make drug pricing transparent and eliminate hidden costs, Elizabeth Landsberg, director of the Department of Health Care Access and Information in California, said in a press release. The program is designed to ensure equitable medication access “for uninsured, underinsured, and vulnerable residents across the state,” according to Landsberg.
Paving a New Path for Affordable Healthcare
California is the first state to procure its own affordable medications available for purchase by the public to compete with market-priced products. It is hoped that transparent pricing will change the paradigm to true public drug manufacturing.
California also recently enacted legislation aimed at lowering the cost of prescription drugs. The new laws include Senate Bill 40, which capped consumer cost-sharing for insulin at $35 for a month’s supply.
According to the American Diabetes Association, 3.5 million or 10.5% of the adult population in California have diabetes and the annual cost of diagnosed diabetes in the state is $47.5 billion. The direct medical expenses for diagnosed diabetes were estimated at $34.1 billion with indirect costs were estimated at $13.4 billion in 2022.
