Descovy vs Dovato
Side-by-side cost comparison based on Medicare Part D data
Descovy
Emtricitabine/TAF
Manufactured by Gilead
Dovato
Dolutegravir/Lamivudine
Manufactured by ViiV Healthcare
Descovy costs 17% less per claim than Dovato ($2,418.00 vs $2,910.00). A generic version of Descovy is also available, which may reduce costs further.
Cost Per Claim
Medicare Spending
Beneficiaries
Annual Cost Per Patient
Full Comparison
| Metric | Descovy | Dovato |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Cost Per Claim | $2,418.00 | $2,910.00 |
| Total Medicare Spending | $1.6B | $1.2B |
| Total Beneficiaries | 86,000 | 36,000 |
| Total Claims | 648,000 | 424,000 |
| Annual Cost/Patient | $18,221.00 | $34,278.00 |
| Year-over-Year Change | +12.4% | +32.6% |
| Generic Available | Yes | Yes |
| Patent Expiration | Jan 31, 2023 | Jan 31, 2023 |
| Manufacturer | Gilead | ViiV Healthcare |
| Condition | HIV | HIV |
| Generic Name | Emtricitabine/TAF | Dolutegravir/Lamivudine |
Descovy vs Dovato: What the Data Shows
Descovy (Emtricitabine/TAF) and Dovato (Dolutegravir/Lamivudine) are both used to treat hiv. Based on Medicare Part D data, Descovy costs $2,418.00 per claim, which is 17% less than Dovato at $2,910.00 per claim.
Medicare spent $1.6B on Descovy and $1.2B on Dovato. In terms of patient reach, Descovy serves more beneficiaries (86,000 vs 36,000).
Year-over-year spending changed +12.4% for Descovy and +32.6% for Dovato. Descovy saw significant spending growth, suggesting increased utilization or price increases. Dovato 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
Descovy is cheaper at $2,418.00 per claim, compared to $2,910.00 for Dovato. That makes Descovy about 17% less expensive per claim based on Medicare Part D data.
Yes, both Descovy and Dovato are used to treat hiv. Your doctor can help determine which medication is more appropriate for your specific situation.
Both drugs have generic versions available. Generic Emtricitabine/TAF and generic Dolutegravir/Lamivudine can offer significant cost savings — typically 80-95% less than the brand name.
Medicare Part D spent $1.6B on Descovy covering 86,000 beneficiaries, and $1.2B on Dovato covering 36,000 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.