CVS Health Declines To Add Gilead's Steeply Priced New HIV Prevention Drug To Its Plans

CVS Health Inc. (NYSE:CVS) said it will not add Gilead Sciences Inc.’s (NASDAQ:GILD) new HIV prevention drug Yeztugo to its commercial plans.

In June, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Gilead Sciences’ Yeztugo (lenacapavir) as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to reduce the risk of sexually acquired HIV in adults and adolescents weighing at least 35kg, making it the first and only twice-yearly option available in the U.S. for people who need or want PrEP.

The company also confirmed the drug will not be included in its Affordable Care Act formularies, since its preventive program follows mandates from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Also Read: Gilead’s Lenacapavir Plan Faces Global Hurdles As It Commits To No-Profit Access for 2 Million

CVS based the decision on clinical, financial, and regulatory factors, spokesperson David Whitrap told Reuters in an ...