AHF applauds Merck for doubling Isentress discount rebates and freezing price for ADAPs

Following an innovative, years long advocacy campaign spearheaded by AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) that targeted Merck and Co. Pharmaceuticals over the pricing of its AIDS drug Isentress—one of the most expensive first line AIDS therapies on the US market today—officials from AHF lauded Merck today for significant concessions that the drug giant is putting in place on its pricing and rebate policies for the nation's AIDS Drug Assistance Programs (ADAP), the federally funded, state run programs that supply lifesaving AIDS drugs to low-income Americans in need. Merck announced last week that it will double its drug discount rebates for hard-hit ADAP programs nationwide; freeze its price for ADAPs for Isentress at approximately $8,800 per patient yearly (more than $4,000 less than its $12,868 Average Wholesale Price [AWP] for the drug); and start paying its ADAP drug discount rebates to states upfront instead of months (or years) after the fact. While many states are facing massive budget shortfalls and are seeking to cut services, and more than twelve have gone as far as to institute patient waiting lists to access ADAP services, Merck's actions should undoubtedly improve access to this key AIDS drug via these important state programs.

“We applaud Merck for these significant concessions that will undoubtedly make Isentress far more affordable and accessible to the AIDS Drug Assistance Programs and the thousands of people with HIV/AIDS who rely on the lifeline these programs provide around the country”

"We applaud Merck for these significant concessions that will undoubtedly make Isentress far more affordable and accessible to the AIDS Drug Assistance Programs and the thousands of people with HIV/AIDS who rely on the lifeline these programs provide around the country," said Michael Weinstein, President of AIDS Healthcare Foundation. "Merck's doubling of its ADAP rebates, its price freeze and its commitment to start paying its ADAP drug discount rebates upfront to cash-strapped states—an industry first—moves Merck to the forefront of the industry here in the US. We urge other drug companies to follow Merck's lead and greatly increase their own ADAP drug rebates, freeze their ADAP pricing as well as join Merck in paying their own ADAP drug rebates upfront."

SOURCE AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF)