ViiV Healthcare Patient Savings Card Covers GSK and Pfizer Drugs
Prevention Materials for Rural Communities
Human Rights Campaign Reports Progress
ViiV Healthcare Patient Savings Card Covers GSK and Pfizer Drugs
Recognizing that medication costs remain a significant burden for many HIV patients, ViiV Healthcare is maintaining the Patient Savings Card, which GSK introduced in 2007. They have also expanded the program to cover all GSK and Pfizer heritage HIV medicines. Go to http://viivhealthcare.com/en/products.aspx to view the list of products covered under the Patient Savings Card.
Patients can still enroll in the program by visiting their doctor and asking for a Patient Savings Card from ViiV Healthcare. They can take the Patient Savings Card to their local pharmacist along with their prescription for eligible HIV medications.
Please also visit www.mysupportcard.com to learn more about the program, find answers to questions, see regulations and determine your eligibility, and use the “Tell a friend” feature to help other HIV patients learn more about how they can reduce their out-of-pocket expenses for their ViiV Healthcare medications.
discuss this news brief in our discussion forum
On February 10, Norvir (ritonavir) 100 mg tablets were approved by the FDA. These tablets do not require refrigeration.
Unlike the capsule formulation, Norvir tablets must be taken with meals and the package insert warns that “Patients who take the 600 mg twice daily soft gel capsule Norvir dose [full dose Norvir, which is rarely prescribed] may experience more gastrointestinal side effects such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, or diarrhea when switching from the soft gel capsule to the tablet formulation because of greater maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) achieved with the tablet formulation relative to the soft gel capsule. Patients should also be aware that these adverse events may diminish as therapy is continued.”
According to Jeff Berry, PA Editor and Co-chair of the Drug Development Committee of the AIDS Treatment Activist Coalition (ATAC), “The fact that the new Norvir tablet version is more heat-stable and does not require refrigeration will provide wider access to the drug, especially in developing countries where refrigeration is difficult or impossible. This is important because of its utility as a booster for other protease inhibitors.”
Details regarding a new co-pay assistance program for Norvir were outlined in a press release from Abbott late last week. The Norvir co-pay support program will be available sometime in 2010 and covers all formulations of Norvir. Once an individual has paid $25 in co-pays, the program will cover up to $75 each month in co-pays within the first 12 months. Certain restrictions may apply. Stay tuned to PA for more information once the program officially launches.
discuss this news brief in our discussion forum
Prevention Materials for Rural Communities
The Rural Center for AIDS Prevention (RCAP) is currently developing a web-based tool called CREATE (create rural education AIDS tailoring effort). CREATE is being designed to offer a cost-effective way for rural communities to develop targeted visuals, such as posters, that include taglines and other text that is individually tailored to reach rural audiences. Site users can select materials that can be modified to reach at-risk groups, specific race/ethnicity groups, or which address specific STIs. Once the user selects the desired image, tagline, and statistics, a printable preview of the prevention material is provided.
RCAP is soliciting help in building a library of images and/or taglines that represent or are appropriate for rural communities. If your images are selected to be included in the library, you will be publically acknowledged as a contributor on the RCAP website. If you are interested in becoming involved, photographer and model release forms are required and can be accessed at the RCAP website, www.indiana.edu/~aids, along with more information about the project. You can also contact RCAP by e-mail at rcap.create@gmail.com.
discuss this news brief in our discussion forum
Human Rights Campaign Reports Progress
A report released by The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) found that there were as many pro-LGBT bills passed nationwide in 2009 as there were in 2007 and 2008 combined. The report, "Equality: From State to State in 2009," is released annually and provides a comprehensive look at the record of all 50 state legislatures in protecting, and in some cases restricting, the civil and human rights of LGBT Americans. It looks at a wide array of legislation, including bills on parenting rights, anti-discrimination, and anti-bullying and harassment. HRC says that pro-LGBT legislation will likely take a backseat to the midterm elections this year, though there is promising anti-discrimination legislation in states like Utah, Ohio, Massachusetts, and New York.
For more information, visit www.hrc.org/about_us/14026.htm.
discuss this news brief in our discussion forum
