Californians can now purchase opioid reversal drugs directly from the state online.
The state began selling its own generic version of Narcan for $24 per twin-pack to businesses and local governments last year, and will now also sell to individual consumers online.
The big picture: The move aims to make the life-saving medication less expensive and more accessible, as a box containing two doses of naloxone nasal spray costs between $45 and $70 from regular pharmacies and online marketplaces.
- Opioid overdose deaths have increased dramatically in California and across the country, reaching 7,847 in the state in 2023. However, California officials have started to see a decline in these deaths.
What they’re saying: California Gov. Gavin Newsom is pushing to force drug companies to lower their prices by offering cheaper, competing versions of medication under the state’s CalRx label.
- “Life-saving medications shouldn’t come with a life-altering price tag,” Newsom said. “CalRx is about making essential drugs like naloxone affordable and accessible for all – not the privileged few.”
Go deeper: Naloxone, which can reverse overdoses of opioids, has been available in the U.S. without a prescription since March 2023, following the U.S. FDA approval of Narcan, a nasal spray brand produced by the pharmaceutical company Emergent BioSolutions.
- California is also working on a plan to make insulin more affordable for residents, with an agreement with the nonprofit Civica to produce CalRx-branded insulin used to treat diabetes.
