Brilinta vs Eliquis
Side-by-side cost comparison based on Medicare Part D data
Brilinta
Ticagrelor
Manufactured by AstraZeneca
Eliquis
Apixaban
Manufactured by Bristol-Myers Squibb
Brilinta costs 55% less per claim than Eliquis ($229.00 vs $510.00). A generic version of Brilinta is also available, which may reduce costs further.
Cost Per Claim
Medicare Spending
Beneficiaries
Annual Cost Per Patient
Full Comparison
| Metric | Brilinta | Eliquis |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Cost Per Claim | $229.00 | $510.00 |
| Total Medicare Spending | $567.0M | $16.6B |
| Total Beneficiaries | 298,000 | 3,850,000 |
| Total Claims | 2,480,000 | 32,460,000 |
| Annual Cost/Patient | $1,903.00 | $4,300.00 |
| Year-over-Year Change | -8.4% | +14.2% |
| Generic Available | Yes | Yes |
| Patent Expiration | Jan 31, 2023 | Jan 31, 2023 |
| Manufacturer | AstraZeneca | Bristol-Myers Squibb |
| Condition | Blood Clots | Blood Clots |
| Generic Name | Ticagrelor | Apixaban |
Brilinta vs Eliquis: What the Data Shows
Brilinta (Ticagrelor) and Eliquis (Apixaban) are both used to treat blood clots. Based on Medicare Part D data, Brilinta costs $229.00 per claim, which is 55% less than Eliquis at $510.00 per claim.
Medicare spent $567.0M on Brilinta and $16.6B on Eliquis. In terms of patient reach, Eliquis serves more beneficiaries (3,850,000 vs 298,000).
Year-over-year spending changed -8.4% for Brilinta and +14.2% for Eliquis. Eliquis saw significant spending growth, suggesting increased utilization or price increases.
Both drugs have generic versions available. Patients should discuss generic alternatives with their pharmacist to reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Brilinta is cheaper at $229.00 per claim, compared to $510.00 for Eliquis. That makes Brilinta about 55% less expensive per claim based on Medicare Part D data.
Yes, both Brilinta and Eliquis are used to treat blood clots. Your doctor can help determine which medication is more appropriate for your specific situation.
Both drugs have generic versions available. Generic Ticagrelor and generic Apixaban can offer significant cost savings, typically 80-95% less than the brand name.
Medicare Part D spent $567.0M on Brilinta covering 298,000 beneficiaries, and $16.6B on Eliquis covering 3,850,000 beneficiaries.
Explore Further
Cost data reflects Medicare Part D spending and may not represent retail pharmacy prices. Average cost per claim represents the total drug cost (not patient out-of-pocket) divided by total claims. This comparison is informational only and should not replace medical advice.
The side-by-side above pulls the CMS Medicare Part D Drug Spending data data for both Brilinta and Eliquis. What follows is the interpretation — which specific axes carry the most weight for Brilinta versus Eliquis, and which differences are large enough to influence a real decision.
For households or analysts using this comparison as a decision input, the right framing is usually not "which is better" in aggregate but "which is better for the specific decision in front of you." CMS Medicare Part D Drug Spending data captures the raw data; the framing depends on whether the question is investment, residency, planning, or research.
Source: CMS Medicare Part D Spending, 2026.