Making prescription drugs more affordable for Californians
People should not go into debt to receive lifesaving medication.
California is officially launching the CalRx® Initiative – to make medications more affordable for all Californians.
California will disrupt the drug market industry by offering prescription drugs at low-cost, transparent prices
CalRx® will break down market barriers to affordable prescription drugs for all Californians who need it – making a healthy life a right for everyone, not just for a privileged few.
How does the CalRx® Initiative work?
CalRx® represents a groundbreaking solution for addressing drug affordability. Originally announced in January 2019 in Governor Newsom’s first Executive Order and later signed into law in the California Affordable Drug Manufacturing Act of 2020 (Pan, SB 852, Chapter 207, Statutes of 2020), CalRx® empowers the State of California to develop, produce, and distribute generic drugs and sell them at low cost.
The State will target prescription drugs where the pharmaceutical market has failed to lower drug costs, even when a generic or biosimilar medication is available.
The first drug manufactured will be insulin. Once approved by the FDA, Californians can ask their doctor or pharmacist for a CalRx biosimilar insulin.
The CalRx® Biosimilar Insulin Initiative will lay the groundwork for future drug projects.
How does CalRx® help make prescription drugs more affordable?
Bringing CalRx® products into the drug market will create more competition, which will help shift the industry from obscure, rebate-based pricing towards low, transparent pricing.
- CalRx® will use transparent pricing – and set as low as possible – based on the development, production, and distribution costs.
- CalRx® will develop target drugs in collaboration with the State’s public programs.
- CalRx® will be available for doctors to prescribe and will be available through a variety of outlets, such as a local pharmacy or retail outlet.
- CalRx® is not a coupon program. As mandated by law, CalRx® will only use federally mandated rebates or discounts, not other ones.
How can I participate?
The intent is that drugs produced through the CalRx® program will be available to all Californians. You do not have to apply, and there are no eligibility requirements.
“Nothing epitomizes market failures more than the cost of insulin.”
—Governor Gavin Newsom
CalRx’s first project will be low cost, biosimilar insulin for Californians who need it.
The CalRx® Biosimilar Insulin Initiative
California is investing $100 million into developing a biosimilar insulin product and building a California-based drug manufacturing facility to lower insulin costs.
$30 insulin by CalRx®
California selects Civica to manufacture affordable insulin under CalRx® Biosimilar Insulin Initiative
Learn more on how CalRx® works
CalRx® represents a groundbreaking solution for addressing drug affordability
Insulin Initiative Announcement
California is going to make its own insulin. It’s simple. People should not go into debt to get life-saving medication.