There are approximately 55 pharmaceutical manufacturers that offer some type of assistance for needy patients. (Each manufacturer defines its own eligibility requirements, and your doctor must certify that you qualify.) You can get a current alphabetical listing of drugs available by writing to the Senate Special Committee on Aging, Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room G-31, Washington, DC 20510 or by calling the committee at 202-224-5364.

The Cost Containment Research Institute has published a 32 page booklet entitled "Free and Low Cost Prescription Drugs." To receive a copy send $5.00 to cover the cost of postage and handling to: The Institute, Booklet #PD925, 611 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, Suite 1010, Washington, D 20003-4303 202-637-0038 http://www.institute-dc.org

Below are the pharmaceutical programs available for some of the most common post-transplant medications.

UPDATE NOTE: As we were going to press with this guide we learned of several mergers in the drug company field. Hoffman and Roche are now Hoffman-La Roche, Ciby-Geigy and Sandoz are now NOVARTIS, and Miles is now part of Bayer.

Burroughs Wellcome, manufacturer of Imuran and Zovirax. Contact
Patient Information Services
Burroughs-Wellcome Co.
PO Box 52035
Phoenix, AZ 85072-9349
Telephone 800-722-9294.
Products are available in a 30-day supply, with maximum of 90 days therapy. Eligibility requirements include a gross monthly income less than 200% of Federal poverty guidelines.

Glaxo, manufacturers of Zantac. Contact
Laura N. Wright, Supervisor
Glaxo Indigent Patient Program
Glaxo. Inc.
PO Box 13438
Research Triangle Park, NC 27709
Telephone 800-452-9677 / 800-452-7677.
Patient must be a private outpatient whom the physician considers medically indigent and who is not eligible for any other third-party reimbursement. Maximum three months' supply.

Fujisawa USA, Inc., manufacturer of Prograf (FK-506). Contact
Fujisawa Patient Assistance Program
PO Box 221644
Chantilly, VA 20153-1644
Phone # 800-477-6472
FAX # 703-968-2909
http://www.fujisawausa.com/
Patients must meet income and insurance criteria set by Fujisawa USA, Inc. and must be referred by a physician who is registered with the program. Approved patients receive two 90-day shipments of Prograf for $20/shipment. Physicians may reapply if a patient needs further assistance.

Merck, Sharp, and Dohme, manufacturers of Vasotec. Contact
Complimentary Products Program,
Merck & Co., Inc.,
PO Box 105534,
Atlanta, GA 30348,
Telephone 800-637-2579 / 800-672-6372.
Patient's physician must provide a written statement of medical need and indicate the existence of financial hardship and the lack of patient eligibility for prescription coverage from insurance or government assistance programs. Requests for three months' supply are generally honored.

Parke Davis, manufacturers of Dilantin. Contact
Parke Davis Patient Assistance Program,
PO Box 9945,
McLean, VA 22102,
Telephone 800-755-0120.
All applications are taken by phone. Patient or doctor can call with the following information: doctor's full name, address, phone number; patient's name, address, phone number, and financial status.

Novartis, manufacturer of Sandimmune and Neoral. The Novartis Drug Cost Sharing Program is solely administered by the
National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) Inc.,
PO Box 8923,
New Fairfield, CT 06812-2783,
Telephone 800-937-6673 / 800-447-6673 or
203-747-8958.
http://www.ch.novartis.com/
If eligible, the patient is awarded up to one year's supply of drugs. NORD determines eligibility and applies a cost share formula. The patient must demonstrate financial need above and beyond the availability of Federal and State funds, private insurance, or family resources.

Other Pharmaceutical Programs

Ask your doctor to call for further information and application information.

Manufacturer Telephone 800 Number Drug

Amgen, Inc. 800-272-9376 Epogen, Neupogen

Astra USA, Inc. 800-488-3247

Bristol Myers Squibb 800-736-0003

Ciba Pharmaceuticals 800-257-3273

Genetech, Inc. 800-879-4747

Glaxo, Inc. 800-452-7677

Hoechst, Marion Roussel, Inc. 800-552-3656 Cardizem

Hoechst-Roussel 800-776-5463

Hoffman-LaRouche 800-526-6367

Immunex Corp. 800-321-4669

Janssen 800-253-3682

Johnson & Johnson 800-447-3437

Knoll 800-526-0710

Lederle 800-526-7870

Marion Merrel Dow 800-362-7466

McNeil Pharmaceuticals 800-682-6532

Merck Human Health 800-672-6372

Miles 800-998-9180

Ortho Pharmaceuticals 800-682-6532

Pfizer 800-646-4455

Pharmacia, Inc. 800-795-9759

Proctor & Gamble 800-448-4878

Roche Labs 800-285-4484

Roxane Labs 800-274-8651

Sanoff Winthrop 800-446-6267

Schering Labs 800-521-7157

Serle 800-542-2526 Calan

Smithkline Beecham 800-546-0420

Survanta Lifeline 800-922-3255

Syntex Labs 800-822-8255

3M Pharmaceuticals 800-328-0255

Upjohn 800-242-7014 / 800-253-8600 Micronase