California: 3TC Now Available through ADAP

On April 25, lamivudine (3TC) was added to the list of drugs available from California's AIDS Drug Assistance Program. According to the California Department of Health Services, this was made possible by an additional $2.3 million in funds, over $2 million of which was from voluntary rebates on drugs purchased from Glaxo Wellcome Inc., which markets AZT as well as 3TC. The ADAP program in California has been under financial strain, because the number of prescriptions filled increased from 96,000 in the last fiscal year to almost 150,000 this year. Most other states' ADAP programs have similar financial difficulties.

It is considered likely, although not certain, that California's ADAP will be able to pay for 3TC, as well as one or more protease inhibitors, in fiscal year 1996-1997.