Gilead agrees not to raise prices on HIV medicines for state AIDS drug programs

After months of tense negotiations, Gilead Sciences has agreed not to boost prices next year for HIV medicines that are sold to state AIDS Drug Assistance Programs, an outcome that lessens the financial strains for agencies that are relied on by many people on low incomes.

Earlier this year, the company sought to boost prices in the high single digits, on average, as part of a new agreement to go into effect in January. The move alarmed the state AIDS Drug Assistance Programs (ADAPs), which are federally funded and provide free or low-cost drugs to about 110,000 low-income people with HIV and AIDS who lack sufficient health care coverage.

The proposed price hikes were made at a difficult time for the state programs, since federal cuts were made to Medicaid , which in turn may pressur