California voters reject drug-price measure Prop 61

Supporters of Proposition 61, the California Drug Price Relief Act, gathered atop a double-decker bus at La Placita Olvera, the heart of Los Angeles on Monday, Sept. 19, 2016. California voters defeated the measure Tuesday. less Supporters of Proposition 61, the California Drug Price Relief Act, gathered atop a double-decker bus at La Placita Olvera, the heart of Los Angeles on Monday, Sept. 19, 2016. California voters defeated the ... more Photo: Gilles Migasson / Associated Press / Gilles Migasson / Associated Press Photo: Gilles Migasson / Associated Press / Gilles Migasson / Associated Press Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close California voters reject drug-price measure Prop 61 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

Voters defeated a measure to rein in ballooning drug prices in California by prohibiting state agencies from paying more for prescription medications than the lowest price paid by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Proposition 61 drew the most spending of California’s ballot initiatives with the pharmaceutical industry shelling out nearly $110 million to defeat it.

The measure was rejected 53.8 percent to 46.2 percent.

Dubbed the “California Drug Price Relief Act,” proponents sought to curtail spiraling drug prices by capping them at the lowest prices paid by the federal Department of Veterans Affairs.

The VA, which serves some 9 million veterans in the United States, pays some of the lowest prices for drugs. Opponents of Proposition 61 argued the law could force the industry to raise drug prices for veterans and others in California.

Evan Sernoffsky is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: esernoffsky@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @EvanSernoffsky