Descovy vs Symtuza
Side-by-side cost comparison based on Medicare Part D data
Descovy
Emtricitabine/TAF
Manufactured by Gilead
Symtuza
Darunavir/Cobicistat/Emtricitabine/TAF
Manufactured by Janssen
Descovy costs 32% less per claim than Symtuza ($2,418.00 vs $3,532.00). 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 | Symtuza |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Cost Per Claim | $2,418.00 | $3,532.00 |
| Total Medicare Spending | $1.6B | $876.0M |
| Total Beneficiaries | 86,000 | 22,000 |
| Total Claims | 648,000 | 248,000 |
| Annual Cost/Patient | $18,221.00 | $39,818.00 |
| Year-over-Year Change | +12.4% | -2.4% |
| Generic Available | Yes | Yes |
| Patent Expiration | Jan 31, 2023 | Jan 31, 2023 |
| Manufacturer | Gilead | Janssen |
| Condition | HIV | HIV |
| Generic Name | Emtricitabine/TAF | Darunavir/Cobicistat/Emtricitabine/TAF |
Descovy vs Symtuza: What the Data Shows
Descovy (Emtricitabine/TAF) and Symtuza (Darunavir/Cobicistat/Emtricitabine/TAF) are both used to treat hiv. Based on Medicare Part D data, Descovy costs $2,418.00 per claim, which is 32% less than Symtuza at $3,532.00 per claim.
Medicare spent $1.6B on Descovy and $876.0M on Symtuza. In terms of patient reach, Descovy serves more beneficiaries (86,000 vs 22,000).
Year-over-year spending changed +12.4% for Descovy and -2.4% for Symtuza. Descovy 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 $3,532.00 for Symtuza. That makes Descovy about 32% less expensive per claim based on Medicare Part D data.
Yes, both Descovy and Symtuza 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 Darunavir/Cobicistat/Emtricitabine/TAF 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 $876.0M on Symtuza covering 22,000 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.
Comparing Descovy and Symtuza on U.S. Medicare prescription-drug pricing requires lining up the underlying CMS Medicare Part D Drug Spending data data side by side. The table above runs the comparison on the canonical fields; the narrative below identifies the factor or factors that drive the most meaningful difference between the two.
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.