Cabenuva (cabotegravir/rilpivirine) and cost

Cabenuva is a brand-name prescription medication. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved it to treat HIV in certain situations.

The two active drug ingredients in Cabenuva are cabotegravir and rilpivirine. Cabenuva is a complete treatment, which means you don’t need to take other HIV medications with it.

For more information about Cabenuva’s uses, refer to this article.

Drug details

Here are some details about Cabenuva:

• How it’s given: extended-release intramuscular injections by a healthcare professional at a doctor’s office
• Generic version: not available

Read on to learn about Cabenuva pricing and how to save money on prescriptions.

As with all medications, the cost of Cabenuva can vary. Factors that may affect the Cabenuva injection price you’ll pay include:

• your treatment plan
• your insurance coverage
• the cost of the visit to your healthcare professional to receive doses of Cabenuva
• whether Cabenuva has a savings program (see the “Financial and insurance assistance” section below)

To find out what the price of Cabenuva will be for you, talk with your doctor or insurance provider.

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about drug costs and Cabenuva.

What does Cabenuva cost per month?

Your monthly cost of Cabenuva can vary depending on several factors. These can include your treatment plan and the costs of doctor’s office visits to receive your Cabenuva doses.

After you’ve received certain starting doses, Cabenuva may be injected once per month or every 2 months. (Your doctor can advise you on how often you’ll need to receive the medication.) Depending on your recommended dose and schedule, you may have a particular monthly cost or a cost for your 2-month doses.

For more about the costs of Cabenuva injections and treatment visits, talk with your doctor and health insurance provider.

Is the cost of Cabenuva different from that of other HIV drugs?

Yes. The cost of HIV medications can differ based on multiple factors. These include the medication’s form, its active drug (or drugs), and whether it’s available in a generic version. (Generics often cost less than brand-name medications. To learn more, see “Brand-name vs. generic drugs” below.)

If you have additional questions about the costs of Cabenuva and other HIV drugs, talk with your doctor. They can also help determine which treatment is right for you.

Cabenuva is only available as a brand-name drug. It doesn’t come in a generic version. A generic drug is an exact copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication.

Generics tend to cost less than brand-name drugs.

Why are costs different for brand-name drugs vs. generic drugs?

Brand-name drugs can be expensive because of the research needed to test their safety and effectiveness. The manufacturer of a brand-name drug can sell it for up to 20 years. When the brand-name drug’s patent expires, multiple manufacturers can create generic versions. This marketplace competition may lead to lower costs for generics. Also, because generics contain the same active ingredients as brand-name drugs, they don’t require the same costly testing.

If you take Cabenuva long term, you may be able to lower its cost by enrolling in ViiVConnect. This assistance program has options and savings programs for eligible people with and without health insurance. For more information, see “Financial and insurance assistance” below.

If you don’t have health insurance, talk with your doctor. They may be able to suggest options that could work for you.

If you need financial support to pay for Cabenuva, help is available. You may also be able to get assistance in understanding your insurance coverage or learning about Cabenuva’s cost with insurance. For example:

• A program called ViiVConnect is available for Cabenuva. For more information and to find out if you’re eligible for support, call 844-588-3288 or visit the program website.
• Some websites provide details about drug assistance programs, ways to make the most of your insurance coverage, and links to savings cards and other services. Two such websites are:
  • Medicine Assistance Tool
  • NeedyMeds

To learn more about saving money on prescriptions, check out this article.

Now that you’ve learned about cost and Cabenuva, you may still have some questions. Talk with your doctor, who can provide personalized guidance about cost issues related to the drug. If you have health insurance, you’ll need to talk with your insurance provider to learn the actual cost you would pay for Cabenuva.

Here are some other resources you may find helpful:

• Medicare drug coverage. To learn about Medicare coverage for drugs, see these articles about Medicare Prescription Drug Plans, drug coupons and Medicare, and the Medicare drug list.
• More details. For details about other aspects of Cabenuva, refer to this article.
• Information about HIV. For more information about HIV, see our HIV and AIDS hub and these related articles.

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.