At the moment, the U.S. Division of Well being and Human Providers (HHS), introduced that HHS and Pfizer have reached an settlement that extends affected person entry to Paxlovid, maximizes taxpayer funding, and begins Paxlovid’s transition to the industrial market in November 2023. This settlement builds on HHS and Pfizer’s robust partnership during the last three years that enabled the event, manufacture, and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics at a report tempo.
HHS has constantly expressed a shared curiosity in collectively transitioning Paxlovid to the industrial market whereas making certain that the USA taxpayer continues to obtain truthful and affordable profit from the HHS procurement of this product, with a concentrate on making certain inexpensive entry for beneficiaries in public applications like Medicare and Medicaid in addition to for individuals who are uninsured. Per the settlement introduced at present, HHS and Pfizer will start preparations for Pfizer to transition Paxlovid to the industrial market in November 2023.
Key options of at present’s settlement are:
- Defending people in public applications, significantly Medicare. People on Medicare, Medicaid, and those that are uninsured will proceed to have the ability to entry HHS-procured Paxlovid totally free by way of the top of 2024 through a affected person help program. From 2025-2028, Pfizer will proceed to run a affected person help program for people who’re uninsured or underinsured with HHS-procured Paxlovid. In parallel, Pfizer will function a copay help program for people with industrial insurance coverage by way of 2028.
- Making certain no HHS-procured product is misplaced to expiry. Up-to-date product will probably be refreshed from Pfizer by way of 2028, making certain that the HHS stock of Paxlovid won’t expire and can embody all new formulations of Paxlovid licensed or accepted to be used within the U.S.
- Making a stockpile for future emergencies. Along with making certain that HHS maintains each course of Paxlovid that it has bought, Pfizer will present HHS with a stockpile of an extra a million therapy programs to make sure preparedness for future COVID-19 surges.
- Offering a clean transition to the industrial market. HHS will guarantee a clean and predictable transition to the industrial market over the subsequent few months whereas prioritizing and reserving our HHS-procured therapy programs for individuals with Medicare and Medicaid, and for individuals who are uninsured. Throughout this transition to industrial distribution, Paxlovid will stay obtainable for ordering from HHS by way of December 15, 2023.
You’ll be able to study extra about HHS’ COVID-19 response and preparedness at HHS.gov.
