Yervoy's List Price Per Dose
Yervoy (ipilimumab), Bristol Myers Squibb's immunotherapy for melanoma and other cancers, has a wholesale acquisition cost (WAC) of $4,784.20 per single-dose vial (10 mg/mL, 200 mg volume, or 200 mg dose).[1] Standard dosing is typically 3 mg/kg every 3 weeks for four doses, then maintenance if needed, but costs are often quoted per vial or per infusion.
Cost Difference vs. Opdivo (Common Combo Partner)
Yervoy is frequently paired with Opdivo (nivolumab). Opdivo's WAC is $2,979 per 100 mg/10 mL vial (or scaled equivalents like $5,958 for 200 mg).[1] Per-dose difference: Yervoy costs about $1,805 more than a comparable Opdivo dose. In combo regimens (e.g., Opdivo + Yervoy), a single cycle can exceed $20,000 before discounts.[2]
How Yervoy Compares to Competitors
| Drug | Company | Per-Dose WAC (approx.) | Key Difference from Yervoy |
|------|---------|-------------------------|----------------------------|
| Keytruda (pembrolizumab) | Merck | $4,800 (200 mg/20 mL vial) [1] | Similar cost; Yervoy is CTLA-4 inhibitor, Keytruda is PD-1—often used interchangeably or combined. |
| Tecentriq (atezolizumab) | Roche/Genentech | $3,100 (1,200 mg/20 mL) [1] | 35% cheaper per dose; PD-L1 target, fewer doses in some regimens. |
| Imfinzi (durvalumab) | AstraZeneca | $3,400 (500 mg/10 mL vial) [1] | 30% less; PD-L1, shorter infusion times. |
Yervoy remains pricier due to its role in high-response combos, though real-world net prices drop 30-50% with rebates.[3]
Factors Driving Cost Variations