US shifting COVID antivirals to commercial market on Nov. 1
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[October 28, 2023]
By Ahmed Aboulenein
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Most people will retain access to Pfizer's
Paxlovid and Merck's Lagevrio COVID-19 oral antiviral treatments for
little or no cost even after the U.S. government starts handing over
their distribution to the commercial market next month, health officials
said on Friday.
The government has been overseeing distribution of the treatments,
alongside vaccines and tests, but has transferring that work to
traditional commercial channels. Commercial ordering for the treatments
is set to start on Nov. 1.
The U.S. government paid around $530 per course for Paxlovid, the most
commonly prescribed at home COVID-19 treatment in the country, and made
it available at no cost.
Pfizer said last week it had set the price for Paxlovid at nearly $1,400
per course before rebates and other discounts to insurers and pharmacy
benefit managers are taken into account.
"The launch of these products, which is what's going to happen on Nov.
1, is not going to bring sudden changes because there's still an ample
supply of federally-owned therapeutics with millions of treatment
courses still in the field," said a U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services (HHS) official.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2023/Oct/28/images/ads/current/topflight_sda_FFARM_2023.png)
"Most people who need therapeutics will continue to be able to access
the treatment they need at low or no cost, both during this transition,
as well as after this transition to the commercial market," he said on a
call with journalists.
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![](../images/102823PIX/health15.jpg)
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) treatment pills Paxlovid and
molnupiravir are seen in boxes, at Misericordia hospital in
Grosseto, Italy, February 8, 2022. REUTERS/Jennifer Lorenzini/File
Photo
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2023/Oct/28/images/ads/current/bennet_lda_010722.png) Providers will be able to order
government-supplied Lagevrio until Nov. 10 and Paxlovid until Dec.
15, the official said, and the government is encouraging them to
keep distributing the federal-owned supply they have at no cost
until it expires or runs out.
Under an agreement with Pfizer allowing the return of 7.9 million
courses, the credits for the returned doses will underwrite a
program keeping Paxlovid free of charge for patients insured under
the Medicare and Medicaid programs through the end of 2024, and to
uninsured and underinsured patients through 2028, the official said.
Returns will begin on Nov. 15, the official said, and will be
accepted through the end of the year. The government is recommending
returns start in December enough time for the establishment of
patient assistance programs and securing of commercially-labeled
doses.
(Reporting by Ahmed Aboulenein; Editing by Marguerita Choy)
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