Press room ... 1996 archive

Project Inform Applauds Addition of Protease Inhibitors
to AIDS Drug Assistance Program Formulary

July 17, 1996

San Francisco, CA—Project Inform, a national HIV/AIDS treatment information and advocacy organization, applauded the announcement by the California State Office of AIDS that it is adding three protease inhibitors (Saquinavir, Indinavir and Ritonavir) to the formulary of the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP). ADAP provides HIV/AIDS treatments at low or no cost to persons without health insurance or without adequate prescription drug coverage. The announcement follows the signing of the Fiscal Year 1996-97 state budget, in which ADAP received a $6.5 million increase from the state general fund.

“The addition of protease inhibitors is welcome news for many people living with HIV/AIDS who could not otherwise afford these promising new treatments,” said Anne Donnelly, Public Policy Director. “From the day these drugs were approved by the FDA, we have been strongly advocating for these drugs to be placed immediately on the ADAP formulary.”

Protease inhibitors are a promising new class of HIV-fighting drugs recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in combination with antivirals, such as AZT and 3TC. Clinical studies have shown that combination treatment is superior to AZT monotherapy (using AZT alone). However, while these new drugs represent more effective options for people living with HIV, they are also expensive. Since these drugs are used in combination therapy, the overall cost of HIV treatment for an individual could double or triple.

“While the presentations on these new treatments at the International AIDS Conference in Vancouver has provided much hope, the harsh reality is that many people can not afford these therapies,” said Martin Delaney, Founding Director. “Without adequately funded treatment access programs such as ADAP, we could potentially face a two-tiered system in which people with adequate insurance or financial resources receive the benefits of government-funded research, and others do not.”

The addition of these new treatments follows an intensive grassroots campaign by advocates to educate the State Legislature and Governor Wilson about the importance of ADAP to people living with HIV and AIDS. California members of Project Inform’s Treatment Action Network (TAN), a national grassroots network of individuals who lobby on HIV/AIDS research and treatment issues, were highly active in this effort by writing and calling their elected representatives. In addition, Project Inform in coalition with several HIV/AIDS organizations helped organize the 6th AIDS Lobby Day at the State Capitol earlier this year, where increased ADAP funding was a major focus.

Anyone with questions about protease inhibitors or how to access the AIDS Drug Assistance Program is encouraged to call Project Inform’s National HIV/AIDS Treatment Hotline at 800-822-7422.