COVID-19 Treatments to be Sold at High Cost After Being Initially Free

Millions of Americans who have been receiving free COVID-19 treatments from the federal government will soon have to pay a hefty price for them as they enter the private market. The pharmaceutical giant Pfizer has set the price for a five-day treatment of Paxlovid at $1,390, although the pills will still be available at no cost for the time being. Another COVID-19 treatment called Lagevrio, manufactured by Merck, will also be hitting the market next week.

The U.S. Health and Human Services officials have stated that millions of the free, taxpayer-funded courses of the pills will still be available at pharmacies, hospitals, and doctor’s offices across the country. However, people on private insurance may start experiencing copays for the treatments once their pharmacy or doctor’s office runs out of the government-provided COVID-19 treatments.

In 2021, the U.S. government made a deal with Pfizer to pay over $5 billion for 10 million courses of Paxlovid. Under a new agreement reached last month, individuals on Medicaid, Medicare, or those without medical insurance will not be required to pay any out-of-pocket costs for the treatment until the end of next year. Pfizer will also be offering copay assistance for the treatment until 2028. The Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Defense, and the Indian Health Service will still have access to Paxlovid from the government’s stockpile.

Suppliers to pharmacies, doctor’s offices, and hospitals can begin ordering the treatments from the drug companies starting next week. Pfizer has committed to ensuring broad and equitable access to the medicine for all eligible patients, according to a statement provided to The Associated Press.

Paxlovid has been used to treat COVID-19 since 2021, but it received full approval from the Food and Drug Administration earlier this year for use on adults with coronavirus who are at high risk of hospitalization or death. This group typically includes older adults and those with medical conditions such as diabetes, asthma, and obesity.

Merck has not yet confirmed the list price for its Lagevrio treatment but has stated that it will offer the treatment free to patients who cannot otherwise afford it.

Full-year revenue for Paxlovid and Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine, Comirnaty, is expected to be approximately $12.5 billion.

Associated Press reporter Tom Murphy in Indianapolis contributed to this report.