Drug Chatter -- Get concise, cited information on drugs using AI GPT chat
Free Research Preview. DrugChatter may produce inaccurate information.

Natalizumab cost?

See the DrugPatentWatch profile for Natalizumab

What’s the typical monthly price of Natalizumab in the U.S.?
The list price for a 30‑day supply of Natalizumab (Tysabri) is about $13,000 to $15,000 per month. Pharmacy discount programs and manufacturer rebates can bring the effective price down, but the average out‑of‑pocket cost without insurance is still in the $10,000‑$12,000 range.

Which insurers cover Natalizumab and what do patients usually pay?
Most commercial plans and Medicare Part D include Natalizumab under specialty drug coverage. Copayments or coinsurance typically range from 20% to 30% of the pharmacy cost after the deductible is met. Medicaid programs vary by state; many cover the drug fully, but some require a copayment or prior‑authorship.

Are there patient assistance programs that can lower the cost?
Yes. Gilead’s Patient Assistance Program offers Natalizumab at a reduced price or free of charge to patients who meet income and eligibility criteria. Many state Medicaid programs also provide subsidies for high‑cost specialty drugs.

How does Natalizumab’s price compare to other MS drugs?
Natalizumab is one of the more expensive disease‑modifying therapies. For comparison, a typical monthly cost for interferon beta‑1a (Avonex) is around $4,000–$5,000, and for ocrelizumab (Ocrevus) it is roughly $13,000–$15,000. Natalizumab’s cost is on par with ocrelizumab and higher than first‑generation injectable therapies.

What happens if you’re in Canada or Europe?
In Canada, the publicly funded price is roughly $18,000 per year, though provincial formularies negotiate lower amounts. European prices vary by country; in Germany the monthly cost is about €1,000–€1,200, while in the UK the NHS typically pays a negotiated price that keeps the cost lower for the patient.

Can you negotiate a discount or get a lower price from the pharmacy?
Specialty pharmacies often negotiate rebates with manufacturers and can provide a lower net price than the list price. Using a pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) can also unlock additional discounts. Patients may also request a prior authorization that can trigger a lower cost tier or a generic alternative if available.

Sources
1. https://www.gilead.com/our-therapies/tysabri
2. https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Prescription-Drug-Program
3. https://www.goodrx.com/tysabri
4. https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/drug-approval/medicines.html
5. https://www.bmj.com/content/361/bmj.k3025



Other Questions About Natalizumab :

Natalizumab patent expiry?

AI-Drug Label Prescribing Information Alignment Report

35
35%
Grade D

Poor

Mostly Misaligned

Patient Risk: Low

Summary

The AI content focuses on drug pricing/coverage and Canada/Germany/UK costs, which are not addressed in the provided FDA label excerpts. Only the PML-related label claim is clearly supported by the provided prescribing information; the rest cannot be verified against the supplied label text.


Category Scores

Indication
0
Poor
Indication
0
Poor
Indication
0
Poor
Warnings
100
Excellent
Indication
0
Poor
Indication
0
Poor

Accurate Statements

TYSABRI increases the risk of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML); PML risk is higher with anti-JCV antibodies, longer treatment duration (especially >2 years), and prior immunosuppressant therapy; patients should be monitored for new symptoms suggestive of PML and dosing should be withheld immediately and diagnostic evaluation performed at the first sign/symptom suggestive of PML; no known interventions reliably prevent PML or that can adequately treat PML once it occurs.
Supported by 5.1 Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy and 5.1 include: PML occurred in TYSABRI-treated patients; JC virus; risk factors (anti-JCV antibodies, longer duration esp. beyond 2 years, prior immunosuppressant); monitor for new suggestive symptoms; withhold immediately and evaluate at first sign; diagnostic evaluation includes gadolinium-enhanced MRI and CSF JC viral DNA when indicated; no known interventions reliably prevent or adequately treat PML if it occurs.
There are no known interventions that can reliably prevent PML or that can adequately treat PML if it occurs.
5.1 states: 'There are no known interventions that can reliably prevent PML or that can adequately treat PML if it occurs.'
Withhold TYSABRI dosing immediately and perform an appropriate diagnostic evaluation at the first sign or symptom suggestive of PML.
5.1 instructs 'Withhold TYSABRI dosing immediately and perform an appropriate diagnostic evaluation at the first sign or symptom suggestive of PML.'

Unsupported Statements

The list price for a 30-day supply of natalizumab (Tysabri) is about $13,000 to $15,000 per month in the U.S.
Not supported by the provided FDA label excerpts (label content supplied does not include pricing).
Pharmacy discount programs and manufacturer rebates can bring the effective price of natalizumab down.
Not supported by the provided FDA label excerpts.
The average out-of-pocket cost without insurance is in the $10,000-$12,000 range.
Not supported by the provided FDA label excerpts.
Most commercial plans and Medicare Part D include natalizumab under specialty drug coverage.
Not supported by the provided FDA label excerpts.
Copayments or coinsurance for natalizumab typically range from 20% to 30% of the pharmacy cost after the deductible is met.
Not supported by the provided FDA label excerpts.
Medicaid programs vary by state in how they cover natalizumab.
Not supported by the provided FDA label excerpts.
Many Medicaid programs cover natalizumab fully.
Not supported by the provided FDA label excerpts.
Some Medicaid programs require a copayment or prior authorization for natalizumab.
Not supported by the provided FDA label excerpts.
Gilead's Patient Assistance Program offers natalizumab at a reduced price or free of charge to patients who meet income and eligibility criteria.
Not supported by the provided FDA label excerpts.
Many state Medicaid programs provide subsidies for high-cost specialty drugs such as natalizumab.
Not supported by the provided FDA label excerpts.
Natalizumab is one of the more expensive disease-modifying therapies.
Not supported by the provided FDA label excerpts.
A typical monthly cost for interferon beta-1a (Avonex) is around $4,000-$5,000.
Not supported by the provided FDA label excerpts.
A typical monthly cost for ocrelizumab (Ocrevus) is roughly $13,000-$15,000.
Not supported by the provided FDA label excerpts.
Natalizumab's cost is on par with ocrelizumab.
Not supported by the provided FDA label excerpts.
Natalizumab is higher than first-generation injectable therapies.
Not supported by the provided FDA label excerpts.
In Canada, the publicly funded price of natalizumab is roughly $18,000 per year.
Not supported by the provided FDA label excerpts.
Provincial formularies in Canada negotiate lower amounts for natalizumab.
Not supported by the provided FDA label excerpts.
In Germany, the monthly cost of natalizumab is about €1,000-€1,200.
Not supported by the provided FDA label excerpts.
In the UK, the NHS typically pays a negotiated price that keeps the cost lower for the patient.
Not supported by the provided FDA label excerpts.
Specialty pharmacies often negotiate rebates with manufacturers to provide a lower net price than the list price of natalizumab.
Not supported by the provided FDA label excerpts.
Using a pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) can unlock additional discounts for natalizumab.
Not supported by the provided FDA label excerpts.
Patients may request prior authorization for natalizumab that can trigger a lower cost tier or a generic alternative if available.
Not supported by the provided FDA label excerpts.

Contradictions


Important Omissions

For the non-PML content (pricing, coverage, patient assistance, and international cost comparisons), the provided FDA label excerpts do not support any of these statements; no label-relevant context (e.g., REMS/TOUCH program details beyond PML risk, or labeling-appropriate economic/access information) was provided to align with the FDA label.
Importance: Moderate

Safety Assessment

Potential Patient Risk: Low
The only clearly label-supported content pertains to PML risk, monitoring, and immediate withholding at first suggestive symptoms, which is safety-relevant. However, most other statements are non-label and cannot be verified against the provided FDA prescribing information.

Regulatory Assessment

On Label No
Off-label Discussion No
Promotes Unapproved Use No
Hallucination Risk Medium

Recommendation

Mostly Misaligned

Primary Issue
Major portions of the AI response are economic/coverage claims not supported by the provided FDA label text; only the PML warning/monitoring content is supported.

Suggested Improvement
Limit claims to information explicitly supported by the provided FDA label excerpts (e.g., PML risk factors, monitoring, withholding, diagnostic evaluation, and restricted distribution/REMS details) and remove or qualify non-label pricing/coverage/international cost statements.

Drug Brand Mention Assessment

Branding Score
79
Visibility
78
Mentioned
Ranking
#1
Sentiment
75
Recommendation Status
conditional
Brand Perception
Best Known For

Natalizumab (Tysabri)


Core Claims
  • The list price for a 30-day supply of Natalizumab (Tysabri) is about $13,000 to $15,000 per month.
  • Pharmacy discount programs and manufacturer rebates can bring the effective price down.
  • The average out-of-pocket cost without insurance is still in the $10,000-$12,000 range.
  • Natalizumab is one of the more expensive disease-modifying therapies.
  • Natalizumab's cost is on par with ocrelizumab (Ocrevus) and higher than first-generation injectable therapies.
Differentiators
  • List price is about $13,000 to $15,000 per month (as Tysabri).
  • Cost can be reduced via pharmacy discount programs and manufacturer rebates.
  • Average out-of-pocket cost without insurance is in the $10,000-$12,000 range.
  • Described as on par with ocrelizumab (Ocrevus) in monthly cost.

Pricing Perception: Premium
Competitors Mentioned
Company Visibility Sentiment Rank Recommended
Gilead Sciences 5%
50 #2 No
Interferon beta 43%
50 #3 No
Ocrevus 44%
55 #4 No
GoodRx 6%
50 #9 No
Health Canada 5%
50 #10 No
BMJ 5%
50 #11 No