Merck Expands Access to New HIV Treatment IDVYNSO™ Through Agreement with the ADAP Crisis Task Force
Merck, known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, has announced a new agreement with the ADAP Crisis Task Force (ACTF) aimed at expanding access to its recently approved HIV treatment IDVYNSO™ (doravirine/islatravir) for eligible patients across the United States. The collaboration is designed to help state AIDS Drug Assistance Programs (ADAPs) provide broader access to the once-daily oral therapy, particularly for people living with HIV who are uninsured, underinsured, or otherwise face financial barriers to treatment.
The agreement underscores Merck’s continued commitment to supporting equitable access to HIV care while strengthening partnerships with public health organizations that play a critical role in ensuring patients receive life-saving medications. By working alongside the ADAP Crisis Task Force, the company aims to improve treatment availability for individuals who rely on state-supported HIV assistance programs.
Supporting Access Through State AIDS Drug Assistance Programs
State AIDS Drug Assistance Programs are a cornerstone of HIV care in the United States. Operating under the federal Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, ADAPs help eligible individuals obtain prescription medications and related healthcare services when they lack sufficient insurance coverage or financial resources.
According to Merck, state ADAPs provided support to more than 250,000 people living with HIV in 2024, highlighting the significant role these programs play in maintaining continuity of care for thousands of Americans.
By entering into a formal agreement with the ADAP Crisis Task Force, Merck is helping ensure that IDVYNSO becomes available through participating state programs, allowing eligible patients to benefit from one of the newest treatment options for HIV management.
The partnership also reflects ongoing collaboration between the pharmaceutical industry and public health organizations to improve medication access for vulnerable populations.
IDVYNSO: A New Once-Daily HIV Treatment
The agreement follows the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of IDVYNSO in April 2026.
IDVYNSO is a once-daily, single-tablet, two-drug regimen containing 100 milligrams of doravirine and 0.25 milligrams of islatravir.
The medicine is indicated for adults living with HIV-1 infection who have already achieved virologic suppression while receiving a stable antiretroviral regimen.
Specifically, the treatment is intended to replace an existing antiretroviral regimen in adults whose HIV-1 viral load remains below 50 copies per milliliter, provided they have no history of virologic treatment failure and no known resistance-associated substitutions affecting doravirine.
As a simplified two-drug regimen, IDVYNSO provides an alternative maintenance therapy for eligible patients while maintaining viral suppression.
Continuing Advances in HIV Treatment
Over the past several decades, advances in antiretroviral therapy have transformed HIV infection from a life-threatening disease into a chronic condition that can often be successfully managed with consistent treatment.
Modern HIV therapies aim not only to suppress viral replication but also to improve long-term tolerability, reduce pill burden, and support adherence through simplified treatment regimens.
Single-tablet therapies have become increasingly important because they can make daily medication routines easier for patients, potentially improving long-term adherence and maintaining durable viral suppression.
IDVYNSO represents one of the latest additions to this evolving treatment landscape by combining two antiretroviral agents into a convenient once-daily tablet for appropriate patients.
Importance of the ADAP Crisis Task Force
The ADAP Crisis Task Force serves as a national organization representing state AIDS Drug Assistance Programs across the country.
The group works collaboratively with pharmaceutical manufacturers, healthcare providers, advocacy organizations, and government agencies to negotiate agreements that improve medication affordability and ensure reliable access to HIV therapies for patients served by ADAPs.
Through these partnerships, the organization helps states manage drug costs while expanding treatment options available to people living with HIV.
Merck’s new agreement continues a longstanding pattern of collaboration between the company and the ACTF to strengthen access to innovative HIV medicines.
HIV Community Welcomes Continued Collaboration
Tim Horn, Director of Medication Access at the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTAD), emphasized the essential role played by state ADAP programs in providing treatment for individuals who might otherwise struggle to obtain HIV medications.
He noted that many people living with HIV depend on ADAP support because they are uninsured, underinsured, or face other barriers to healthcare access.
Horn expressed appreciation for Merck’s continued engagement with the HIV community and its willingness to work collaboratively alongside the ADAP Crisis Task Force.
According to Horn, partnerships such as this help address ongoing access challenges while ensuring patients can receive the treatments they need to maintain their health.
Merck Reaffirms Commitment to HIV Care
Conrod Kelly, Head of Merck’s U.S. HIV Business Unit, said the company is pleased to have reached the agreement with the ADAP Crisis Task Force.
He explained that expanding access to IDVYNSO for eligible people living with HIV reflects Merck’s longstanding commitment to supporting the HIV community through partnerships focused on improving treatment availability.
Kelly added that the collaboration demonstrates Merck’s continued dedication to working alongside ACTF, state ADAP programs, healthcare providers, and patient advocates to address persistent gaps in HIV care.
By supporting broader access to innovative therapies, the company hopes to help more patients maintain effective long-term disease management.
Addressing Financial Barriers to Treatment
Medication affordability remains one of the most important factors influencing access to HIV treatment.
Even when highly effective therapies become available, out-of-pocket costs, insurance limitations, and coverage complexities may create obstacles for some patients.
To help address these challenges, Merck offers additional patient support services through its Merck Access Program.
The program is designed to help eligible individuals better understand insurance coverage, estimate out-of-pocket expenses, and identify financial assistance options that may reduce treatment costs.
These services complement the company’s collaboration with state ADAP programs by providing another pathway for eligible patients to obtain access to therapy.
Merck Access Program for IDVYNSO
Patients who are prescribed IDVYNSO, as well as their healthcare providers, may receive assistance through the Merck Access Program.
The program offers information regarding insurance benefits, patient eligibility, reimbursement support, and estimated treatment costs.
For commercially insured individuals who qualify, Merck also provides co-pay assistance, helping reduce out-of-pocket expenses associated with treatment.
In addition, the program helps patients navigate available coverage options while connecting them with resources that facilitate access to IDVYNSO.
These support services are intended to simplify the treatment process and minimize financial barriers for eligible individuals living with HIV.
Strengthening Public-Private Partnerships
The agreement between Merck and the ADAP Crisis Task Force highlights the importance of collaboration between pharmaceutical companies and public health organizations in addressing healthcare disparities.
State HIV assistance programs continue to serve hundreds of thousands of Americans each year, and partnerships that improve access to newly approved medicines can help ensure that advances in HIV treatment benefit a broader patient population.
Such collaborations have long been recognized as an important component of the national HIV response, supporting treatment continuity while helping patients maintain viral suppression and overall health.
Merck’s agreement with the ADAP Crisis Task Force marks another step in the company’s efforts to improve access to innovative HIV therapies for underserved populations. By making IDVYNSO available through state AIDS Drug Assistance Programs, the collaboration supports individuals who depend on publicly funded assistance to obtain life-saving medications.
Combined with the Merck Access Program and ongoing partnerships with HIV advocacy organizations, the initiative reflects a broader commitment to reducing treatment barriers and expanding access to care. As IDVYNSO becomes integrated into HIV treatment programs across the United States, eligible patients living with virologically suppressed HIV-1 infection may benefit from an additional once-daily maintenance therapy designed to simplify long-term disease management while maintaining effective viral control.
About IDVYNSO
IDVYNSO is a fixed-dose combination of two medicines, doravirine and islatravir. Doravirine is a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) that inhibits HIV-1 replication by non-competitive inhibition of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase. Islatravir is a potent, next-generation nucleoside analog reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) that blocks HIV-1 replication by multiple mechanisms including:
- inhibition of reverse transcriptase translocation, resulting in immediate chain termination, and
- induction of structural changes in the viral DNA (delayed chain termination).
