California: CalRx drives down the cost of naloxone as state program reverses nearly 400,000 overdoses
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Dec 19, 2025

CalRx drives down the cost of naloxone as state program reverses nearly 400,000 overdoses

What you need to know: As the state tracks nearly 400,000 overdoses reversed through the Naloxone Distribution Project, the Governor announces that, beginning January 1, 2026, CalRx-branded over-the-counter (OTC) naloxone HCL nasal spray, 4 mg, will cost only $19 – a more than 50% cost decrease from the original market price.

SACRAMENTO – Today, Governor Gavin Newsom announced that CalRx® will offer CalRx-branded OTC naloxone HCL nasal spray, 4 mg, for only $19, beginning January 1, 2026. This represents a more than 50% decrease in cost from the original market price.

Lifesaving medications should never be out of reach because of cost – and, through CalRx, California is proud to lead the way in driving down prices and expanding access across the country by disrupting the pharmaceutical market.

Governor Gavin Newsom

Since May 2024, the CalRx Naloxone Access Initiative has saved California more than $39.6 million – and an additional $56 million indirectly, through estimated savings from partnerships with vendors committed to increasing access through lower prices, putting downward price pressure on other vendors. These savings help sustain the state's broader efforts to combat the opioid crisis and support prevention services, including the Naloxone Distribution Project (NDP), which distributes free naloxone to community organizations, first responders, and local agencies statewide.

Through the NDP alone, nearly 400,000 overdoses have been reversed. Now, with more affordable CalRx® naloxone available for purchase by all Californians, individuals and organizations alike, more people are empowered to save even more lives.  "Naloxone saves lives, and California is committed to ensuring that cost is not a barrier," said Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) Director Elizabeth Landsberg, whose department administers the CalRx program. "By working closely with our manufacturing partners, the CalRx initiative continues to deliver affordable, high-quality medications that make a real impact in communities across the state."

"The Naloxone Distribution Project is a cornerstone of California's lifesaving overdose and prevention response strategy, getting naloxone into communities where it's needed most," said DHCS Director Michelle Baass. "CalRx's $19 OTC naloxone expands that reach, giving families, communities, and local organizations another affordable, reliable option to save lives."

CalRx® naloxone became available in the retail market in April 2025 at almost half the price in stores. This new price – beginning January 1, 2026 – is a further 15% decrease from its current price of $22.50. This effort is evidence that CalRx® is disrupting the national pharmaceutical market, fostering competition, and driving down costs across the country—with tangible benefits flowing back to Californians.

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Addressing the opioid and overdose epidemic

The overdose epidemic claims thousands of lives each year throughout the nation – and California is combatting this through an all-hands-on-deck approach. A critical component of that is through overdose and prevention services, and methods like naloxone, which is capable of reversing opioid overdoses swiftly and effectively.

The state is also taking aggressive action to target fentanyl trafficking and disrupt the supply of deadly illicit drugs in the state, including partnering with local law enforcement and expanding the California National Guard's role in drug interdiction across the state and at the border.

CalRx® naloxone can be purchased at the CalRx® naloxone online store. No-cost CalRx naloxone is also available to eligible California entities through the Naloxone Distribution Project. As of December 15, 2025, the project has distributed more than 7.6 million units of naloxone.

For more information on opioids and how you can protect yourself and loved ones, visit Opioids.CA.GOV, a one-stop shop for Californians seeking resources around prevention and treatment.

More on CalRx

Today's news comes after the Governor's announcement in October 2025 that starting January 1, 2026, California's CalRx® Biosimilar Insulin Glargine in pen form will be available to consumers for a suggested retail price of not more than $55 per five-pack of pens.

In 2019, the Governor's first executive order was to lower prescription drug costs and ensure fair and transparent pricing is accessible to all Californians – resulting in the CalRx initiative. To date, no other state has made available its own affordable medication available for purchase to the public to compete with market-priced products.

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