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 l

See Full Page