What is Yervoy and Its Standard List Price?
Yervoy (ipilimumab) is Bristol Myers Squibb's immunotherapy for melanoma and other cancers, administered via IV infusion. A single 10 mg/kg dose for a 70 kg patient totals 700 mg, typically using 2-3 vials of 200 mg or 50 mg each. The average wholesale price (AWP) per vial ranges from $3,500-$4,000 for 200 mg, making one full dose around $10,000-$12,000 list price. A full course (4 induction doses every 3 weeks, plus maintenance) exceeds $150,000 before discounts.[1]
How Do Discounts Work for Yervoy?
Discounts reduce the net cost through:
- 340B Program: Hospitals buy at 20-50% off AWP (often ~$2,000-$3,000 per 200 mg vial), mandated for safety-net providers.
- Wholesale Acquisition Cost (WAC) Discounts: Payers get 15-25% off AWP via contracts.
- Patient Assistance: Bristol Myers' program offers free or copay help (<$5,000/year income eligibility) for uninsured/underinsured, covering up to $15,000/year.
- Commercial Rebates: Insurers negotiate 30-50% rebates post-purchase, dropping net to payers to $5,000-$8,000/dose.[2]
No public "discounted cost" is fixed; it varies by buyer.
Typical Discounted Prices by Buyer Type
| Buyer | Per 200 mg Vial | Full Dose (700 mg) | Full Course Net |
|-------|-----------------|---------------------|-----------------|
| 340B Hospital | $1,800-$2,500 | $5,500-$8,000 | $40,000-$60,000 |
| Commercial Payer (post-rebate) | $2,500-$3,200 | $7,500-$10,000 | $50,000-$80,000 |
| Medicare Part B | $8,000-$10,000 (ASP +6%) | Limited copay aid | Varies by plan |
| Cash-Pay Patient (w/ discount card) | $3,000-$4,000 | $9,000-$12,000 | N/A |
Prices from 2023-2024 data; actuals depend on contracts.[3][1]
How Patient Out-of-Pocket Costs Get Even Lower
- Copay accumulators/caps: Many plans limit to $5-$25/month via BMS Access.
- GoodRx/coupons: Rare for biologics like Yervoy; cash price ~$10,000/dose without insurance.
- Medicare: Part D covers infusions with 20% coinsurance (~$2,000/dose) until cap, then low/no cost.
Factors Driving Yervoy's Discounts and Price Pressure
Rising generics/biosimilars (none approved yet) and patent challenges push rebates higher. BMS faces lawsuits on pricing; net U.S. sales dropped to $1.9B in 2023 from peak $2.5B due to discounts.[4] Check DrugPatentWatch.com for patent expiry (2030-2035 for key claims), which could halve prices.5
[1]: https://www.drugpatentwatch.com/p/tradename/YERVOY
[2]: https://www.cms.gov/medicare/payment/fee-schedules/physician/aspru
[3]: https://www.goodrx.com/yervoy
[4]: Bristol Myers Squibb 2023 10-K