After months of tense negotiations, Gilead Sciences has agreed not to boost prices next year for HIV medicines that are sold to state AIDS Drug Assistance Programs, an outcome that lessens the financial strains for agencies that are relied on by many people on low incomes.
Earlier this year, the company sought to boost prices in the high single digits, on average, as part of a new agreement to go into effect in January. The move alarmed the state ADAPs, which are federally funded and provide free or low-cost drugs to about 110,000 low-income people with HIV and AIDS who lack sufficient health care coverage.
The proposed price hikes were made at a difficult time for the state programs, since federal cuts were made to Medicaid, which in turn may pressure states to reduce their health care budgets. The Trump administration has also sought reductions in federal funding for HIV prevention programs, which could lead to more HIV infections that would likely boost demand for medicines and services provided by ADAPs.
Continue to STAT+ to read the full story…
STAT Pharma: The science and business of new drug development
Leave a Reply