Despite Merck's efforts to develop and implement effective philanthropic and business strategies to help remove barriers to access, challenges remain due to the complex and multifaceted nature of the problem.

Improving access to HIV medicines requires more than simply making our medicines and vaccines available at reasonable prices. We believe that truly to address—and, ultimately, solve—the issue of access in low and middle income markets, the international community must pool its resources and expertise to strengthen healthcare infrastructure, ensure adequate financing for health, and help to build local healthcare capacity through training and support. Pharmaceutical companies alone cannot solve these immense public health problems. Sustainable solutions will come from comprehensive approaches that draw on the expertise of all stakeholders. For this reason, a key element of Merck's approach to increasing access to HIV medicines is promoting and participating in public/private partnerships with governments, multilateral organizations, community-based organizations, other corporations and nongovernmental organizations to address specific health and development challenges beyond those over which Merck has immediate and direct control. While many include financial or in-kind support, Merck also seeks to leverage our expertise and the skills of our employees to contribute in additional meaningful ways. Learn more about our HIV/AIDS partnerships.

Ensuring Access of Our HIV Medicines to U.S. AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP)

Merck is highly committed to ensuring access to our antiretrovirals (ARVs) to people living with HIV. We have a long history of working closely with leaders from the HIV community to ensure our approach to pricing our medications is fair and reasonable, balancing Merck's interest in continuing to conduct extensive HIV research while supporting broad access to our medicines.

Merck was the first company to provide a price freeze to the unique state U.S. AIDS Drug Assistance Program (state ADAP) when it suffered through a funding challenge in the late 1990s. In 2008, Merck announced a price freeze on ISENTRESS^® (raltegravir) for state ADAPs and in 2010 extended that price freeze of ISENTRESS and that of CRIXIVAN^® (indinavir) that was first established in 2003 to eligible state ADAPs through December 31, 2013. Merck also is providing expanded financial relief to ADAPs through increased discounts.

Merck's Patient Assistance Programs (PAPs) in the United States

Merck's commitment to patients' access to its products is evidenced through its HIV SUPPORT^TM Program, which helps patients who have been prescribed ISENTRESS or CRIXIVAN by providing personalized support and patient advocacy regarding individual reimbursement issues. The SUPPORT^TM Program also offers patient assistance, which may include providing ISENTRESS or CRIXIVAN free of charge to eligible patients. Information about the SUPPORT Program can be obtained by calling 1-800-850-3430 or visiting this site.

Merck's Co-pay Assistance Program in the United States

In addition to the SUPPORT Program, Merck has a co-pay assistance program in the U.S. for eligible patients on ISENTRESS. If patients have private insurance and an out-of-pocket cost for ISENTRESS, they may be eligible to receive a savings coupon for ISENTRESS. The coupon provides savings toward their out-of-pocket costs up to a maximum of $400 per prescription (regardless of the number of tablets supplied on the prescription) of ISENTRESS. The coupon can be used up to 12 times prior to the expiration date. More information is available at www.isentress.com.