Merck’s differential-pricing policy is part of its commitment to addressing HIV, with the goal of ensuring that its HIV antiretroviral (ARV) medicines reach as many of those in need as possible.

Pricing Policy for HIV Medicines in the Developing World

Our differential-pricing program not only facilitates access, but it also helps us sustain our investment in clinical and medical education programs in developing world countries with the greatest disease burden and least ability to finance healthcare, while maintaining an incentive to sustain innovation and provide our medicines in countries with a lower HIV-disease burden and a greater ability to finance healthcare.

ISENTRESS (raltegravir), STOCRIN (efavirenz), CRIXIVAN (indinavir)

Merck offers its lowest Access price for its HIV medicines to countries based on a combination of highest disease burden and lower country income (GNI per capita) as defined by the World Bank. A list of eligible Access countries is provided here.

As of July 1, 2011, the Access prices for Merck’s HIV medicines for eligible customers¹ are:

Countries classified as Low-Middle Income and Upper-Middle Income² by the World Bank are eligible for prices that are discounted from those in developed, high-income countries. These prices will vary based on, among other things, a combination of treatment guideline positioning, patient access, market conditions, country income and disease burden, and will be negotiated with each government.

For high-income countries, Merck will make ISENTRESS^® (raltegravir) available at competitive prices that take into account the innovation and value that ISENTRESS represents.

ATRIPLA (tenofovir, emtricitabine, efavirenz)

Merck sells ATRIPLA^® at US $1.68 per day, or US $613 per year in 98 access countries as defined by our agreement with Gilead.

Antiretroviral (ARV) Pricing

Merck is committed to reviewing the prices of our ARVs based on efficiencies in manufacturing and supply, and/or reductions in the costs of active ingredients.

Since 2000, Merck has lowered the Access price of STOCRIN^® by more than 95 percent from an introductory price of US $10/day in 1998, to US $0.65/day. Since 1996, Merck has lowered the Access price of CRIXIVAN^® by 84 percent, from an introductory price of US $12/day to US $1.64/day.

¹Customers eligible for public sector Access pricing in eligible Access countries will include: governments and programs fully funded by governments and/or by multi- and bi-lateral donors (e.g., the Global Fund, PEPFAR or UNITAID), UN System Organizations, NGOs and other noncommercial providers of HIV treatment in sub-Saharan Africa, World Bank defined Low-Income countries, UN defined Least Developed Countries, and India. Merck offers these products on a Delivered Duty Unpaid (DDU), Carriage and Insurance Paid (CIP) or Carriage Paid To (CPT) airport-of-destination (Incoterms, 2000) basis. Additional costs may include freight, insurance, customs handling, taxes and duties.

²Customers eligible for public sector pricing in Low-Middle and Upper-Middle Income countries will include: governments and programs fully funded by governments and/or by multi- and bi-lateral donors (e.g., the Global Fund, PEPFAR or UNITAID), UN System Organizations and NGOs. Low- and Middle-Income countries that are members of the European Union are not eligible for pricing under this access program.