The governor of California announced earlier this month that the state would produce its own diabetes medication. He said in a July 7 video that the cost of diabetes is the epitome of market failures. People shouldn't go into debt to pay for medication.
More than 30 million Americans have diabetes, and around 8 million of them use a hormone to regulate their blood sugars. If you have a high-deductible health plan, you may be able to pay hundreds of dollars a month for diabetes care. One in four users said they had to use less of it because of the cost, according to a study.
California would makeinsulins similar to brand-name versions under the plan. Alex Stack, deputy communications director for the governor's office, said patients can expect to pay anywhere from 47 to 95 percent less than what they are currently paying. A person's insurance status will affect the savings. There is no reason that other people can't make money if we can do it.
The state has a $308 billion budget. The state of California will spend $50 million to get a product to the market as soon as possible. Stack thinks that will happen by the beginning of the 20th century. The state will spend another $50 million to build a California based manufacturing facility that will create a stronger supply chain.
There are other efforts to lower the cost of diabetes care. In March, Civica, a Utah-based pharma company, announced that it would manufacture and distribute its own low-cost insulin. Lantus, Humalog, and Novolog are the three most used insulins in the United States, and the company plans to make a cheaper version of them. A $140 million facility is being built by Civica in Virginia, where it will make a number of drugs.
The prices will be limited to $30 for a vial and $55 for a box of pens. Factors like a person's weight, diet, and diabetes can affect how long this will last. Allan Coukell, Civica's senior vice president of public policy, says that the pricing is based on how much it costs to manufacture and distribute the product.
Drug stores in the US will be able to sell Civica'sinsulin widely. It will be made available at any pharmacy that wants to purchase it and abides by our pricing policy, which is not to mark it up too much before it gets to the patient.
California and Civica are shortening the time it takes to develop a cheaper version of the drug by partnering with manufacturers that already make their own. California hasn't chosen a manufacturer, but Civica has a partnership with a company in India that has the technology for making a cheaper version of the drug. It is Civica's goal to have its first product on the market in twenty four years.
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