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Drug Info

How to save on Fasenra

Although the list price of Fasenra is over $7,000, most people with insurance pay less than $50 per dose
Leandra Beabout
By | Jul. 2, 2024 Medically reviewed by Chad Shaffer, MD
A piggy bank and two auto-injector pens: How to save on Fasenra

Key takeaways

  • Fasenra is a brand-name prescription injection used to treat severe eosinophilic asthma.

  • The price of Fasenra and similar biologic treatments is very high, but the out-of-pocket cost varies by pharmacy, insurance coverage, dosage, and more.

  • You can save on Fasenra with a SingleCare coupon, a copay savings card, assistance from the drug manufacturer, and possibly switching to a similar medication that may be more affordable.

In this article:

Fasenra (benralizumab) is a brand-name prescription biologic medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat a specific type of severe asthma. “Fasenra is an injectable medication approved to treat patients with severe eosinophil-predominant asthma that is not adequately controlled on a high-dose inhaled steroid medication plus one asthma controller medication,” explained Jason Bellak, MD, president and allergist-immunologist at Allergy & Asthma Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is approved for patients 6 years old and older. In other words, Fasenra injections are used to help control asthma long-term rather than stopping an asthma attack on the spot. Fasenra isn’t a substitute for a rescue inhaler.

According to Christina M. Madison, Pharm.D., founder of The Public Health Pharmacist, Fasenra is initially administered once every four weeks, then every eight weeks as a maintenance treatment. But even with doses spaced out over several weeks, the cost of Fasenra is very high. Fortunately, there are ways to save on Fasenra pen prescriptions.

How much does Fasenra cost?

The typical retail price of Fasenra is $7,715 for one, 30 mg/ml injection pen, as of the time of publishing. However, the exact cost of prescription drugs varies based on several factors, including specialty pharmacy markup. And what a person pays out of pocket is dependent upon more factors, including insurance and their choice of pharmacy.

According to the drug’s manufacturer, AstraZeneca, people with employer-provided or private health plans pay an average of $46 per Fasenra dose. AstraZeneca also lists the average out-of-pocket cost per dose as $90 for people with Medicare Advantage plans and $2-$9 for people with Medicaid. 

How to save money on Fasenra

Although this brand-name prescription injection may be expensive, there are still ways to save on Fasenra. Below, find information about discount programs and Fasenra savings tips.

1. Fasenra Copay Savings Program

If a patient has commercial insurance that covers only part of the cost of Fasenra, the FASENRA Copay Savings Program may lower the remaining cost to as little as $0 for eligible, commercially insured individuals. Even if the savings program does not bring a patient’s out-of-pocket cost to $0, it can still offer a steep discount but only if someone meets eligibility criteria. 

There are eligibility requirements for the Fasenra Savings Program. Patients must be a resident of the United States or its territories with a valid prescription for on-label use of Fasenra. They must also have eligible commercial insurance. There are no income requirements, however. This discount does not apply to anyone using a government-funded prescription program, such as Medicaid or Medicare Part D.

Patients can get additional information about this savings program by calling 844-ASK-A360 or connecting with a reimbursement counselor at AstraZeneca by calling 833-360-HELP (4357).

2. AZ&Me Prescription Savings Program

This prescription savings program can help patients get AstraZeneca products like Fasenra for free if they meet certain income requirements. The AZ&Me program is open to people without insurance as well as people on Medicare. This is an income-based program meant to help people struggling to afford AstraZeneca medications, including Fasenra. 

Interested individuals can apply by completing the Fasenra enrollment form for the AZ&Me program online.

3. Verifying prescription coverage

The price patients pay for Fasenra depends a lot on their prescription coverage. Some insurance plans cover Fasenra. Others do not. However, an insurance plan’s drug formulary—a list of preferred drugs—can change at any time. It’s a good idea to compare the formularies of several plans during the Open Enrollment Period to ensure you have the best plan for your needs.

Can I get Fasenra for free?

Yes, AstraZeneca has patient assistance programs to help eligible patients get Fasenra with little or no out-of-pocket cost. Other than the Fasenra Savings Program and the AZ&Me Prescription Savings Program, there’s also the manufacturer’s Denied Patient Savings Program. The program helps patients whose commercial health insurance has denied coverage for Fasenra get their medication for free. 

Is there a cheaper alternative to Fasenra?

“There is no generic for this medication used for severe eosinophilic asthma,” Dr. Madison said. “It’s only available as brand-name medication.” Unfortunately, other biologics used to treat severe asthma are also not available in generic form, according to Dr. Bellak.

Does this mean there are no cheaper alternatives to Fasenra? Not necessarily. Every insurance plan has a different list of covered medications, so some patients may save money by switching to a different brand-name biologic.

Alternative biologic therapies for severe asthma may include:

  • Nucala (mepolizumab), which has a list price* of $3,688 per dose, according to the manufacturer
  • Dupixent (dupilumab), which has an average retail price of $5,140 for two 300 mg pens
  • Tezspire (tezepelumab-ekko), which has a list price* of $4,040 per 210 mg dose, according to the manufacturer
*A medication’s list price is not the price most people pay. The final cost depends on various factors that include the pharmacy, the dose prescribed, insurance coverage, and the condition being treated.

If you’re struggling to afford your Fasenra prescription, talk to your healthcare provider. They may know of opportunities to save money on your asthma injections. They may also be able to recommend a less expensive prescription medication to use in place of Fasenra. 

RELATED: Fasenra vs. Nucala: Differences, similarities & side effects