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New Jersey Restores Drug Funds For Low-Income HIV/AIDS Patients – New Jersey residents with HIV/AIDS who were excluded from the New Jersey AIDS Drug Distribution Program will now be enrolled in a new drug benefit program, the Temporary AIDS Supplemental Rebate and Federal Assistance Program. The new program will cover the cost of antiretroviral medications to individuals making between 300 percent ($32,490) and 500 percent ($54,150) of the federal poverty level per year. Funding for the new program comes from pharmaceutical company rebates and newly available federal AIDS grants. Program participants will be able to use the same eligibility number that they are currently using to fill prescriptions. For more information, please see the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services website.

Tibotec Pharmaceuticals Submits New Drug Application For Rilpivirine To Treat HIV – Tibotec Pharmaceuticals has submitted a new drug application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for rilpivirine (TMC278), a new non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor. Rilpivirine is being studied for once-daily use with other antiretroviral drugs in treatment-naive HIV-positive adults. The application is based on the results of two Phase 3 clinical trials evaluating rilpivirine plus Truvada (emtricitabine/tenofovir) versus Sustiva (efavirenz). Tibotec has also agreed to collaborate with Gilead Sciences to develop a once-daily combination pill of rilpivirine and Truvada. For more information, please see the Tibotec Pharmaceuticals website and press release.

FDA Warns Consumers Of Serious Harm From Drinking Miracle Mineral Solution – The FDA is warning consumers not to drink Miracle Mineral Solution, also known as Miracle Mineral Supplement (MMS). MMS is sold online and falsely claims to treat multiple diseases, including HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, and cancer. The supplement contains an industrial bleach that can cause serious illness or injury, including severe nausea, vomiting, and life-threatening low blood pressure caused by dehydration. The FDA has warned consumers who have MMS to stop using it immediately and throw it away. For more information, please see the FDA website.

Some Dietary Supplements For People With HIV May Be Contaminated And Unsafe – The September issue of Consumer Reports identifies 12 dietary supplements that consumers should avoid because of possible health risks to the heart, liver, and kidneys. The list includes supplements such as colloidal silver (also known as ionic silver, native silver, or silver in suspending agent) and germanium (also known as Ge, Ge-132, or germanium-132) that are commonly used by people with HIV. Supplement manufacturers are not required to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of their products, which can be contaminated with heavy metals, pesticides, or prescription drugs. Consumer Reports developed the harmful ingredient list with the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, an organization that researches and evaluates the safety and effectiveness of dietary supplements. For more information, please see the Consumer Reports website.

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Merck Halts Development Of New HIV Drug Vicriviroc – Merck announced July 14 that it would stop development of its new drug, vicriviroc, due to disappointing results from a Phase 2 trial in individuals who had not received antiretroviral treatment before. The drug had previously shown poor results in a Phase 3 trial in treatment-experienced individuals. Vicriviroc was designed to prevent HIV from binding to the CCR5 protein, which is located on the surface of CD4 (white blood) cells and is used by HIV to infect the cells. Vicriviroc would have been the second drug of this type; Pfizer’s drug Selzentry (maraviroc) is the first. For more information, please see the Aidsmap and Project Inform websites.

New Jersey Tightens Eligibility Requirements For AIDS Drug Distribution Program – As part of its budget cutbacks, New Jersey has tightened eligibility requirements for its AIDS Drug Distribution Program (ADDP). ADDP provides antiretroviral medications for low-income, uninsured individuals with HIV. Previously, New Jersey’s ADDP covered individuals with incomes up to 500 percent of the federal poverty level, or $54,150 per year. As of August 1, the program will only cover individuals with incomes up to 300 percent of the federal poverty level, or $32,490 per year. For more information, please see the NorthJersey.com website or the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services website.

North Carolina Announces Limited Reopening Of Its AIDS Drug Assistance Program – The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services announced July 11 that $14 million will go toward reopening the state’s AIDS Drug Assistance Program, which had closed to new participants in January. With the new funds, the program will add 627 patients who have been on the waiting list. Current eligibility requirements restrict the program to individuals living at or below 125 percent of the federal poverty level, or $13,538 per year. Individuals with incomes between 125 and 300 percent of the federal poverty level will continue to be waitlisted. For more information, please see the WRAL.com website or the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services website.