HHS announces agreement to transition Paxlovid to commercial market
The Department of Health and Human Services in November will begin transitioning to commercial distribution an estimated 7.9 million treatment courses of the COVID-19 antiviral pill Paxlovid under an agreement with Pfizer announced. Authorized for emergency use, the supply will remain available for ordering from HHS through Dec. 15, 2023. Beginning in 2024, Pfizer will sell Paxlovid to privately insured patients and operate a federal copay assistance program for these individuals through 2028. Pfizer also will continue to operate a federal assistance program to offer the HHS-procured supply without cost to eligible Medicare, Medicaid and uninsured patients through 2024 and to eligible uninsured and underinsured individuals from 2025 through 2028, updating any expired product. The company also will provide HHS with an additional 1 million treatment courses for the national stockpile.