Amid skyrocketing costs for life-saving insulin, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced plans for the state to make its own low-cost insulin.
In a Tweet, Governor Newsom said, “California is going to make its own insulin. It’s simple. People should not go into debt to get life-saving medication.”
The state will set aside $100 million from its $308 billion 2022-23 budget to develop an affordable version of the drug and a manufacturing facility based in California.
“$50 million will go towards the development of low-cost insulin products and an additional $50 million will go towards a California-based insulin manufacturing facility that will provide new, high-paying jobs and a stronger supply chain for the drug,” Newsom said.
The medication will be made available “at a cheaper price, close to at-cost,” he said, though specific numbers have not yet been disclosed. A spokesperson from the governor’s office told the LA Times that production could begin in the next few years.
One study conducted by Yale School of Medicine researchers found that insulin has become an “extreme financial burden” for many in the US.
Among Americans who use insulin, 14.1%, or about 1.2 million people, were found to spend at least 40% of what’s left of their income, after paying for food and housing, on the drug alone, according to the study.
For more statistics and information on how diabetes is affecting people in the United States, please check out this great article from Diabetes Strong.