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Key takeaways
Cosentyx is a brand-name prescription injection used to treat inflammatory diseases that include psoriasis, ankylosing spondylitis, and psoriatic arthritis.
Cosentyx is expensive without insurance, coupons, or manufacturer assistance—averaging over $8,000 per dose.
Patients can save on Cosentyx through a SingleCare coupon, the manufacturer’s $0 copay program if eligible, comparing pharmacy prices, or switching to a cheaper alternative.
Cosentyx (secukinumab) is a brand-name injectable biologic drug that is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, active psoriatic arthritis, and spinal arthritis (active ankylosing spondylitis, non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis, and enthesitis). Cosentyx is also classified as an immunosuppressant because its active ingredient is a monoclonal antibody that blocks the body’s inflammatory response.
Doses of Cosentyx are usually administered once every four weeks once a patient reaches the maintenance stage, but it ultimately depends on the condition being treated. There are different forms of Cosentyx available: prefilled syringes and auto-injector pens. There are two types of auto-injector pens: Sensoready and UnoReady. The Cosentyx website details the differences between the auto-injector pens.
Even though Cosentyx is only taken every month or so, it can be cost-prohibitive. Fortunately, there are ways to save on Cosentyx, even for uninsured or underinsured patients.
How much does Cosentyx cost?
The cost of Cosentyx depends on the dosage and the pharmacy filling the prescription. Currently, the average price of Cosentyx prefilled syringes without insurance or discounts is:
- Prefilled syringe: $8,276 for one 150 mg/ml syringe
- Prefilled Cosentyx 300 mg dose syringe: $8,337 for two 150 mg/ml syringes
The expense of UnoReady and Sensoready auto-injectors is similar. Insurance may cover the entire cost of Cosentyx, depending on the health plan and whether the annual deductible has been met. Some health insurance plans do not include Cosentyx on their drug formularies—lists of approved drugs. That means prior authorization may be required, or a patient may have to try other, more affordable drugs first to prove that Cosentyx is necessary.
Ultimately, a patient’s out-of-pocket cost depends on several factors, including insurance coverage, prescribing information (dose and frequency), the pharmacy used, and discount program eligibility.
Can I get Cosentyx for free?
Novartis Pharmaceuticals has a Cosentyx copay program called Cosentyx Connect. Through the program, eligible patients may pay as little as $0 per copay for up to two years. Cosentyx Connect is only available to patients with private insurance. The program is not available to people using government programs such as Medicare or Medicaid. In addition to restrictions on who can use the program, the total annual savings provided by the program is limited to $16,000.
Apply for Cosentyx Connect by completing a short online form or by calling 844-COSENTYX (844-267-3689).
How to save money on Cosentyx
Cosentyx has a very high list price, but that doesn’t mean patients can’t save on out-of-pocket expenses for this prescription medication. Below, find ways to lower the cost of Cosentyx.
1. Use a SingleCare prescription discount card
SingleCare negotiates discounts on prescription drugs to save you money at the pharmacy. Depending on which pharmacy you choose, you could save up to 80% on some prescription drugs by using a SingleCare prescription discount card.
SingleCare discounts vary by drug, quantity, strength, form, and pharmacy, so always ask your pharmacist for the exact cost to avoid a surprise bill. You can also search for your prescription on the SingleCare website in advance and then choose which pharmacy’s coupon you’d like to use. See the chart below for how much you can save on Cosentyx prefilled syringes with a SingleCare coupon. Coupons may also be available for Cosentyx UnoReady and Cosentyx Sensoready auto-injector pens.
Cosentyx cost comparison |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| Dose | Typical retail price* | SingleCare price* | Savings options |
| Cosentyx prefilled syringe | $8,276 for one 150 mg/ml syringe | $7,248 for one 150 mg/ml syringe | See latest price |
| Cosentyx 300 mg dose prefilled syringe | $8,319 for two 150 mg/ml syringes | $7,174 for two 150 mg/ml syringes | See latest price |
* Prescription drug prices often change. These are the most accurate medication prices at the time of publishing. Click the link under “Savings options” to see the latest drug prices.
2. Compare prices
One of the most common ways to save on prescription drugs is by comparing the cost of the drug from different pharmacies, according to Inna Melamed, Pharm.D., a functional medicine practitioner and author of Digestive Reset. The price may be hundreds of dollars different from one pharmacy to another.
That said, it’s important to know that Cosentyx is no ordinary drug. As a biologic subcutaneous injection, Cosentyx requires special handling and must be delivered by a specialty pharmacy—a type of pharmacy that has the technology and clinical experience to safely administer specialty medications to patients with complex medical conditions. Although pharmacy options may be more limited than they’d be for a standard drug, patients may still be able to compare prices from multiple specialty pharmacies. A prescribing healthcare provider may be the best resource for learning the most affordable options.
3. Check your prescription coverage
The out-of-pocket cost of Cosentyx is mainly influenced by a person’s prescription coverage. Not all insurance plans cover the cost of Cosentyx, but drug formularies can change at any time. Patients can also call their healthcare providers to ask whether Cosentyx is covered or to start the process of prior authorization if required.
Anyone prescribed Cosentyx before or during the open enrollment period should compare the formularies of various plans to ensure they choose the one that makes the out-of-pocket costs of their prescribed medications as affordable as possible.
4. Consider a Cosentyx alternative
Ask your healthcare provider if switching to a cheaper alternative to Cosentyx is possible. Even if the list price of other biologic injections isn’t lower, the out-of-pocket cost may be less if your insurance plan covers the other drug.
“Contact your health insurance company to get a copy of your plan’s formulary of medications. Provide this to your healthcare prescriber so that it’s easier for them to choose a medication that is more likely to be covered,” says Christina M. Madison, Pharm.D., founder and CEO of The Public Health Pharmacist. “When possible, get a generic. It will likely be cheaper.”
Is there a cheaper alternative to Cosentyx?
The best way to find a cheaper alternative to a brand-name drug is to ask for the same drug in generic form. However, Cosentyx is currently only available as a brand-name product, and the best alternative drug depends on each patient’s specific diagnosis, according to Dr. Madison.
Dr. Melamed says the two closest matches to Cosentyx, brand-name drugs Otezla (apremilast) and Taltz (ixekizumab), are also costly. While they may not have a significantly lower list price, these medications used to treat psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, or both may have lower out-of-pocket costs than Cosentyx under specific health coverage plans:
- Otezla (apremilast) costs $6,012 for 60, 30 mg tablets.
- Taltz (ixekizumab) costs $8,695 per 80 mg auto-injector pen.
The following medications are also prescribed to treat some of the same conditions as Cosentyx:
- Tremfya (guselkumab), which has a typical cash price of $24,778 per 100 mg/ml injection pen
- Skyrizi (risankizumab), which has a typical cash price of $11,433 per 600 mg/10 ml vial
- Acitretin (generic Soriatane), which has a typical cash price of $1,133 for 30, 25 mg capsules
If you’re struggling to afford your Cosentyx prescription, seek medical advice from a healthcare provider. Doctors and pharmacists may be able to recommend a less expensive prescription medication that would still be effective for your situation. They may also know of opportunities to save money through discount programs or nonprofit assistance programs.
Sources
- Videos and resources to help make injecting easier, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
- Sign up for support, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
- Specialty pharmacies, Pharmaceutical Care Management Association