On the fifth anniversary of the announcement of its worldwide HIV/AIDS pricing policy, Merck & Co., Inc. further reduced the price of its HIV/AIDS medicine, Stocrin (efavirenz), in the least developed countries of the world and those hardest hit by the epidemic. The price of the 600 mg formulation of Stocrin has been reduced by 20 percent to US $0.76 per day, or US $277.40 per patient per year, from $0.95 per day.

The 200 mg formulation of Stocrin has been reduced by 22 per cent to US $0.36 per capsule, or $1.08 per day and about US $394.20 per patient per year, from $0.46 per capsule. Merck is lowering the price of these formulations of Stocrin due to new efficiencies and cost savings resulting from improved manufacturing processes, stated a company release.

At the end of 2005, nearly 500,000 patients in 76 developing countries were being treated with antiretroviral regimens containing either of Merck's two current HIV/AIDS medicines, Stocrin and Crixivan (indinavir sulfate).

"This announcement of further price reductions by Merck is very welcome," Dr. Peter Piot, Executive Director of the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) said adding, "The cost of antiretroviral therapies from both research-based and generic pharmaceutical companies has declined dramatically in recent years. We hope that this trend accelerates as the global community gears up to come as close as possible to universal access to HIV prevention, treatment and care for all who need it by 2010."