Kisqali (ribociclib) is a brand-name prescription medication. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved it to treat hormone receptor (HR)-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative advanced or metastatic breast cancer in adults.
Kisqali is typically prescribed in combination with certain hormone therapies for breast cancer. These include:
Kisqali comes as a tablet that you swallow. It also comes as a Kisqali Femara co-pack.
For more information about Kisqali’s uses, refer to this article.
Drug details
Here are some details about Kisqali:
- Drug form: oral tablet
- Generic version: not available
Read on to learn about Kisqali and cost, as well as how to save money on prescriptions.
As with all medications, the cost of Kisqali can vary. Factors that may affect the price you’ll pay include:
- your treatment plan
- your insurance coverage
- the pharmacy you use
- whether Kisqali has a savings program (see the “Financial and insurance assistance” section below)
To find out what the cost of Kisqali will be for you, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.
Note: If you have insurance, your insurance company may require prior authorization before it covers Kisqali. This means the company and your doctor will discuss Kisqali in regard to your treatment. The insurance company will then determine whether the medication is covered. If a drug requires prior authorization, but you start treatment without the prior approval, you could pay the full cost of the medication. You can ask your insurance company whether Kisqali requires prior authorization.
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about drug cost and Kisqali.
What’s Kisqali’s cost per month?
Your cost of Kisqali per month depends on whether or not you have insurance that covers prescription drugs. If you have insurance, contact your provider to find out what you’ll pay for Kisqali.
If you have additional questions about Kisqali’s cost per month, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
How does the price of Kisqali compare with the price of Kisqali Femara co-pack?
The prices of Kisqali and Kisqali Femara co-pack depend on several factors. These include your insurance plan (if you have one) or the pharmacy you use to fill your prescriptions.
If you have questions about the price of Kisqali or Kisqali Femara co-pack, ask your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.
Does Kisqali have a copay assistance program?
The manufacturer of Kisqali offers several options to help cover the cost of Kisqali. These options include:
- The Novartis Oncology Universal Co-pay Program
- KISQALI 5-Treatment Cycle Access
- 1 FREE Treatment Cycle of KISQALI and/or FEMARA
Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions about copay assistance programs for Kisqali.
Kisqali 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 Kisqali long term, you may be able to lower its cost in the following ways.
Getting a 3-month supply
You may be able to get a 90-day supply of Kisqali. If approved by your insurance company, getting a 90-day supply of the drug could reduce your number of trips to the pharmacy and help lower the cost. If you’re interested in this option, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.
Using a mail-order pharmacy
Kisqali may be available through a mail-order pharmacy with your insurance company. Using this type of service may help lower the drug’s cost and allow you to receive your medication without leaving home. Some Medicare plans may help cover the cost of mail-order medications. You may also be able to get a 90-day supply of the drug via mail order.
If you don’t have health insurance, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They may be able to suggest online pharmacy options that could work for you.
If you need financial support to pay for Kisqali, or if you need help understanding your insurance coverage, help is available. For example:
- A program called The Novartis Oncology Universal Co-pay Program is available for Kisqali. For more information and to find out if you’re eligible for support, call 877-577-7758 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:
To learn more about saving money on prescriptions with or without insurance, check out this article.
Now that you’ve learned about cost and Kisqali, you may still have some questions. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist, who can provide personalized guidance about cost issues related to Kisqali. But if you have health insurance, you’ll need to talk with your insurance provider to learn the actual cost you would pay for Kisqali.
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 Kisqali, refer to this article.
- Dosage. Learn about Kisqali and dosage by viewing this article.
- Side effects. For details about Kisqali’s side effects, see this article. You can also look at the Kisqali prescribing information.
- Information about your condition. For more information about breast cancer, see our breast cancer hub.
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.