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Key takeaways
Dovato is a combination tablet containing dolutegravir and lamivudine that is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating HIV-1 infection.
The price for a one-month supply of Dovato is over $3000, but SingleCare’s discount card and coupons can lower this amount substantially.
Despite Dovato not having a generic alternative, savings may be achieved by taking generic lamivudine alongside brand-name dolutegravir (Tivicay), but healthcare provider approval is required.
Other antiretroviral drug options can be pursued as alternatives to Dovato, but based on patient-specific factors and drug interactions, an alternative may not be suitable.
Dovato treats HIV-1 infection by containing two active antiviral ingredients, dolutegravir and lamivudine. The retail price for Dovato is $3700 (without insurance) for 30 tablets, each containing 50 mg of dolutegravir and 300 mg of lamivudine. It is only available by prescription, and while the drug has no over-the-counter (OTC) alternatives, other antiviral options exist. If Dovato is the preferred therapeutic, ways to reduce costs can be found. We will explore them here.
Related: Dovato dosage
What is the generic for Dovato?
No generic version is available for Dovato. However, lamivudine alone can be obtained as a generic, costing $580 for 30 300 mg tablets. Coupling that with dolutegravir would require a prescription of Tivicay, the brand name product containing only dolutegravir as an active ingredient. Tivicay has no generic counterpart and is priced at $2800 for 30, 50 mg tablets. If one were to take separate generic lamivudine and brand-name dolutegravir, the combined retail price would be $3400 without insurance.
Is Dovato covered by insurance?
Health insurance and Medicare typically cover Dovato, but it can vary by plan. For example, Humana lists the drug as covered in 2024 at a Tier 1 level, meaning a lower copayment than higher tiers. Aetna’s Standard Control Plan labels Dovato as a specialty preferred drug, which translates to a lower copay than nonpreferred drugs.
If you have Medicare, coverage will depend on which Part D prescription drug plan you have purchased. lists total out-of-pocket costs for Dovato, including the plan premium and the drug, for 8 months, with the lowest prices ranging from about $3300 to $4000, depending on one’s plan and location.
How much does Dovato cost without insurance?
With insurance coverage, the out-of-pocket cost of Dovato will depend on an individual plan’s formulary listing and copayment amounts. To be more accurate about the drug’s cost with insurance, you may want to factor in how much of an insurance plan’s premium expense is linked to prescription drug coverage.
If you are uninsured, when determining Dovato’s expenses, the math works out as follows:
- $3700 for a 30-day supply of 50 mg/300 mg tablets
- $123 per tablet
- $44,000 per year
The exact numbers may vary depending on the pharmacy, but this will also be true for alternatives. To provide a comparison, using the same arithmetic, taking separate dolutegravir (brand Tivicay) and generic lamivudine is associated with the following costs:
- $3400 for a 30-day supply of Tivicay 50 mg and lamivudine 300 mg tablets
- $113 per day
- $40,800 per year
Adjusting antiretroviral treatment for HIV requires the guidance of healthcare providers and pharmacists. Their medical advice is necessary before making any changes. Initial HIV antiviral therapy can differ from later choices as viral load test results can change the recommended treatment. Additionally, co-infection with the hepatitis B virus can impact decision-making regarding medications. Antivirals are notorious for interacting with various other drugs, which can lead to serious side effects. Any alternatives being considered must be vetted for interactions by having a healthcare professional carefully review one’s list of other prescription drugs, OTC agents, supplements, and health conditions.
Compare Dovato prices to related drugs |
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|---|---|---|---|
| Drug name | Price without insurance of brand-name drug | SingleCare price | Savings options |
| Dovato (dolutegravir/lamivudine) | $3700 per 30, 50 mg/300 mg tablets | $2900 per 30, 50 mg/300 mg tablets of brand-name Dovato | See latest prices |
| Tivicay (dolutegravir) | $2800 per 30, 50 mg tablets | $2200 per 30, 50 mg tablets of brand-name Tivicay | See latest prices |
| Epivir (lamivudine) | $250 per 30, 150 mg tablets | $50 per 30, 300 mg tablets of generic lamivudine | See latest prices |
| Biktarvy (bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide) | $5100 per 30, 50 mg/200 mg/25 mg tablets | $3900 per 30, 50 mg/200 mg/25 mg tablets of brand-name Biktarvy | See latest prices |
| Descovy (tenofovir alafenamide/emtricitabine) | $2900 per 30, 200 mg/25 mg tablets | $2000 per 30, 200 mg/25 mg tablets of brand-name Descovy | See latest prices |
| Triumeq (dolutegravir/abacavir/lamivudine) | $4400 per 30, 60 mg/5 mg/30 mg tablets | $3700 per 30, 60 mg/5 mg/30 mg tablets of brand-name Triumeq | See latest prices |
| Genvoya (elvitegravir-cobicistat-emtricitabine-tenofovir alafenamide) | $4700 per 30, 150 mg/150 mg/200 mg/10 mg tablets | $3900 per 30, 150 mg/150 mg/200 mg/10 mg tablets of brand-name Genvoya | See latest prices |
Prescription drug prices often change. These are the most accurate medication prices at the time of publishing. The listed price without insurance references the price of brand-name drugs (unless otherwise specified). The listed SingleCare price references the price of generic drugs, if available. Click the link under “Savings options” to see the latest drug prices.
How to get Dovato without insurance
If you are taking Dovato, the monthly prices can seem daunting, like many brand-name medications. However, savings opportunities can be found, and the differences can be significant. The pharmaceutical company that makes Dovato, Viiv Healthcare, offers enrollment in a patient assistance program that could provide the drug for free to eligible patients and the ViivConnect Savings Card. Still, eligibility guidelines for these offerings can be exclusive.
In comparison, more widely available options for saving on Dovato include the following:
- Presenting a SingleCare discount card to the pharmacist can take Dovato’s monthly price down from $3700 to $2900, saving you $800.
- SingleCare Dovato coupons are available to use at participating pharmacies.
- If your healthcare provider approves a change to separate lamivudine and Tivicay (dolutegravir), the monthly expense would be $3400, and if a SingleCare discount card or free coupon was used for this combination, the monthly price drops to about $2300. Combined savings in one month from taking two separate tablets with the active ingredients and from using SingleCare discounts amounts to $1400.
- Alternative antiretroviral drug options can be reviewed with the treating medical provider and then priced at a pharmacy. Not all alternatives may be recommended for an individual or be associated with savings, but the effort to ask can still be worthwhile.
Lea este artículo en español aquí.
Sources
- Humana 2024 formulary, Humana (2024)
- Aetna Standard Control Plan formulary, Aetna (2024)
- Humana Medicare drug pricing app, Humana (2024)
- Medicare Part D drug pricing tool, Medicare (2024)
- Viiv Healthcare resources, Viiv Healthcare (2024)
