Merck announced an agreement with the ADAP Crisis Task Force to help state AIDS Drug Assistance Programs provide access to IDVYNSO for eligible people living with HIV.
Merck, which is known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, said the agreement is intended to support access to its new once-daily HIV treatment.
In 2024, state ADAPs supported more than 250,000 people with HIV in the United States.
IDVYNSO was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in April 2026 as a two-drug single-tablet regimen of 100 mg doravirine and 0.25 mg islatravir.
The treatment is approved for HIV-1 infection in adults to replace a current antiretroviral regimen in those who are virologically suppressed on a stable regimen, have no history of virologic treatment failure, and have no known substitutions associated with resistance to doravirine.
Merck said the agreement reflects its commitment to working with the ADAP Crisis Task Force, state ADAPs, and the HIV community to strengthen access and address persistent gaps in care.
The company also highlighted the Merck Access Program for IDVYNSO, which provides information about patient insurance coverage, estimated out-of-pocket costs, co-pay assistance options for eligible commercially insured individuals, and access pathways for patients.
IDVYNSO is a fixed-dose combination of doravirine and islatravir.
Doravirine is a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor that inhibits HIV-1 replication by non-competitive inhibition of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase.
Islatravir is Merck’s next-generation nucleoside analog reverse transcriptase inhibitor designed to block HIV-1 replication through multiple mechanisms.
Merck said it has been committed to HIV research and discovery for 40 years, including work across multiple drug classes and access initiatives aimed at supporting people impacted by HIV.
Islatravir is also being evaluated in additional HIV treatment and prevention programs.
Islatravir in combination with Gilead’s lenacapavir is in Phase 3 development as a novel oral once-weekly treatment for HIV-1. Islatravir in combination with Merck’s investigational non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor ulonivirine is in Phase 2b development as an oral once-weekly treatment.
Merck is also developing MK-8527, an investigational once-monthly oral candidate for pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV-1.
Merck is a research-intensive biopharmaceutical company focused on medicines, vaccines, and health solutions for people and animals.
KEY QUOTES:
“ADAP programs play a critical role in supporting access to treatment for people living with HIV who are uninsured or underserved. We appreciate Merck’s continued engagement and its willingness to work collaboratively to help address the critical access challenges facing state ADAP programs.”
Tim Horn, Director, Medication Access at National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors
“Merck is pleased to have reached this agreement with the ADAP Crisis Task Force to expand access to IDVYNSO for eligible people with HIV. This agreement reflects our long-standing commitment to working with the ACTF, state ADAPs and the HIV community to strengthen access and help address persistent gaps in care.”
Conrod Kelly, U.S. HIV Business Unit Head at Merck
