After a three-year effort, California will start selling low-cost insulin pens this January, the first such move by a state to circumvent the pharmaceutical industry and combat diabetes.

A pack of five pens will be made available for $55 through the CalRx program, which was initiated five years ago by California Gov. Gavin Newsom to bring less expensive medicines to state residents. The program contracts with companies to make generic drugs and, in this instance, CivicaRx, a non-profit, will provide the pens.

“California didn’t wait for the pharmaceutical industry to do the right thing. We took matters into our own hands,” Newsom said in announcing the availability of the pens on Thursday. “…No Californian should ever have to ration insulin or go into debt to stay alive — and I won’t s

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