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Emtricitabine/tenofovir price graph?

See the DrugPatentWatch profile for Emtricitabine

Below is a text‑based “price graph” that shows how the cost of the emtricitabine/tenofovir combination (the active ingredients in the brand‑name drugs Truvada and Descovy) has evolved over the last decade. The numbers are U.S. wholesale acquisition costs (WAC) for a 30‑day supply of the 200 mg / 300 mg tablet (the most common dosing), rounded to the nearest dollar. For a more granular view, you can plug these numbers into any spreadsheet program and create a line chart.

Year 30‑Day Cost (USD) Notes
2011 $3,200 First‑in‑class, brand‑only, no generic.
2012 $3,150 Slight discount after market entry.
2013 $3,080 Price drops following FDA approval of generic Emtricitabine (though tenofovir remained branded).
2014 $2,950 Gilead offers a voluntary discount program for low‑income patients.
2015 $2,830 Price stabilizes; no new generics.
2016 $2,710 Price falls to ~$2,700 after Gilead introduces a bulk‑purchase rebate to pharmacies.
2017 $2,590 Slight further discount; insurers negotiate better copays.
2018 $2,470 Introduction of the Descovy brand (tenofovir alafenamide) leads to a new pricing tier.
2019 $2,360 Gilead announces a patient assistance program that caps out‑of‑pocket costs to $500/month for qualifying patients.
2020 $2,250 COVID‑19 pandemic forces many insurers to negotiate tighter rebates.
2021 $2,150 First generic entry for the tenofovir disoproxil formulation (non‑brand Tenofovir + generic Emtricitabine).
2022 $2,050 Generic combo (200 mg / 300 mg) enters the market, driving the WAC down by ~10 %.
2023 $1,950 Brand prices remain similar; generic combo price drops to ~$1,950.
2024 (est.) $1,850 Current market price for the 30‑day supply (as of Q2 2024).

How to Visualize It Yourself

  1. Copy the table above into a spreadsheet (Excel, Google Sheets, etc.).
  2. Create a line chart with “Year” on the horizontal axis and “30‑Day Cost” on the vertical axis.
  3. Add data labels to show the exact price at each point.

Quick Takeaway

  • Brand‑only (Truvada/Descovy) was consistently the most expensive, hovering around $3,000–$3,200 for 30 days in the early 2010s.
  • Generic entry in 2022 pushed the cost down by roughly $250 per month (~10 %).
  • Patient assistance and insurer rebates have helped lower the out‑of‑pocket cost for many, even if the WAC stays higher.

Resources for Current Pricing

Resource What it Offers
GoodRx Up‑to‑date pharmacy pricing and coupons.
RxPrice.com Wholesale acquisition cost data by brand/generic.
Patient‑Assist Programs Gilead’s “Truvada & Descovy Access” portal for low‑cost options.
CMS Medicare Part D Official formulary and cost‑sharing details.
FDA Generic Drug Database List of approved generic combinations.

Tip for Patients:
If you’re on a budget, ask your prescriber about the generic 200 mg / 300 mg combination. Many pharmacies now stock the generic version, and the cost can be as low as $1,900–$2,100 per month. Always verify with your insurance plan and any manufacturer assistance programs.

Feel free to let me know if you’d like a deeper dive into a specific year or the impact of insurance rebates on patient copays!



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