Newsom promotes affordable insulin, but California's generic label off to a slow start

In San Francisco's Japantown, pharmacist Margaret On demonstrated two boxes of long-acting insulin pens from California's new prescription drug label, CalRx, featuring the state's grizzly bear emblem. On plans to keep them for emergencies or uninsured patients. Seven months after launching its low-cost insulin brand, California has distributed over 120,000 packs of insulin glargine at $55 each, a fraction of the $89 to $411 charged by popular brands before markups.

This marks the first time a state is competing against drugmakers Eli Lilly, Sanofi, and Novo Nordisk under its own prescription label. California's initiative, led by Governor Gavin Newsom, aims to provide emergency insulin supplies and disrupt the pharmaceutical industry, which costs the U.S. $467 billion annually. Newsom, eyeing a 2028 presidential run, plans to expand CalRx to include generic GLP-1 medications and address health care costs, a popular issue for both parties.

Newsom's plan to saturate the insulin market and offer cheaper alternatives is currently symbolic, as uptake remains low. While CalRx may benefit some diabetics, its impact is limited. Experts suggest a national effort to tackle high drug costs, focusing on supply shortages and increasing generic products for expensive drugs.