Overview
- Consumers will pay up to $55 for a five-pack of 3 mL pens, with California pharmacies purchasing the packs for $45.
- The CalRx product is an interchangeable biosimilar to Lantus, allowing pharmacists to substitute it without a new prescription.
- Civica Rx says it will distribute the low-cost insulin to pharmacies nationwide, extending access beyond California.
- The rollout stems from a multi-year deal with Civica Rx and Biocon Biologics and follows lawmakers’ 2022 approval of roughly $100 million for the insulin effort and related infrastructure.
- State analysts warn of potential market-side risks and the launch comes after delays from an earlier 2024 target.