SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich today announced that price concessions negotiated from drug manufacturers will net the state $1 million for its drug assistance program for people with HIV and AIDS. In addition, the recently approved fiscal year 2005 budget includes a $3.1 million boost the Governor sought to expand and improve the program.

“Illinois has one of the premier HIV/AIDS drug assistance programs in the country,” Blagojevich said. “There currently are no waiting lists for people who need assistance and the list of drugs provided exceeds that of most state programs. This additional money will only help to make our program even better.”

As part of the agreement, which was put together by state HIV/AIDS directors from throughout the country, including Illinois, the various rebates, price freezes and discounts are back-dated to purchases from as early as July 2003 and are to be effective until March, 30, 2005.

Dr. Eric E. Whitaker, director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, which administers the state’s $35 million AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP), said the unexpected resources and new dollars will be used for anticipated growth in the program and the possible addition of new drugs.

The increased ADAP spending secured by Blagojevich provides $1.6 million to add medicines to treat the adverse side effects of AIDS drugs and $1.5 million to add other drugs, cover higher drug prices, and pay for an anticipated growth in clients. Currently, ADAP provides 72 life-saving medications to an average of more than 3,000 HIV-infected clients a month who have a gross income at or below 400 percent of poverty ($37,240 for one person or $49,960 for a family of two).

The seven drug manufacturers that provided price concessions were Abbott Laboratories, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc., Bristol-Meyers Squibb Company, Gilead Sciences, GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer and Roche Pharmaceuticals.