Biotech Values

[DewDiligence]

Re: The New Battle Lines in HIV (MRK Isentress)

In addition to the drawback of being dosed BID in a qD world, Isentress is evidently uncompetitive with other first-line HIV drugs on price. According to this PR from the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (an advocacy group for AIDS patients), the yearly price of Isentress for self-pay patients is $12,900* (~$35/day). This is about 3x the price of other commonly used first-line agents and it is additive to the prices of the other two drugs first-line patients must take as part of a 3-drug cocktail:

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/AHF-Renews-Challenge-to-Merck-bw-3048813737.html?x=0&.v=1

*When reimbursed under the Ryan White program, the yearly price is $8,100.