State Financial Cutbacks Hit AIDS Programs

18 August 1996

Because of financial problems, several US states have cut their AIDS Drug Assistance Programs drastically, and more cuts are pending. This is due to the cost of newer, costlier and more potent drug combinations, and also to headlines hyping the protease inhibitors and combination treatments bringing thousands more into the programs.

Washington is the latest to cut its program, Illinois and Kansas have already done so, and up to 20 states are not offering the newest drugs, reports the Associated Press. Washington's AIDS director Mariella Cummings said the 76% rise in patients in January-June pushed the bill from $53,000 a month to $144,000. The three-drug cocktail now favored costs $10,000-$15,000 per patient per year.

This fiscal year the programs will spend $145 million on drugs for 65,000 people, including an extra $22 million in emergency funds allotted by President Clinton this spring. When the protease inhibitors became available in December, ADAPs had to cope with being able to afford them, giving them only to patients for whom they could guarantee a constant supply, and an influx of new patients who had heard about the treatment.

This article is accessible to registered users, to continue reading please register for free.  A free trial will give you access to exclusive features, interviews, round-ups and commentary from the sharpest minds in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology space for a week. If you are already a registered user please login. If your trial has come to an end, you can subscribe here.

Login to your account

Become a subscriber

 

£820

Or £77 per month

Subscribe Now
  • Unfettered access to industry-leading news, commentary and analysis in pharma and biotech.
  • Updates from clinical trials, conferences, M&A, licensing, financing, regulation, patents & legal, executive appointments, commercial strategy and financial results.
  • Daily roundup of key events in pharma and biotech.
  • Monthly in-depth briefings on Boardroom appointments and M&A news.
  • Choose from a cost-effective annual package or a flexible monthly subscription
The Pharma Letter is an extremely useful and valuable Life Sciences service that brings together a daily update on performance people and products. It’s part of the key information for keeping me informed

Chairman, Sanofi Aventis UK





Today's issue

Company Spotlight