Descovy vs Triumeq
Side-by-side cost comparison based on Medicare Part D data
Descovy
Emtricitabine/TAF
Manufactured by Gilead
Triumeq
Dolutegravir/Abacavir/Lamivudine
Manufactured by ViiV Healthcare
Descovy costs 32% less per claim than Triumeq ($2,418.00 vs $3,580.00). 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 | Triumeq |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Cost Per Claim | $2,418.00 | $3,580.00 |
| Total Medicare Spending | $1.6B | $1.9B |
| Total Beneficiaries | 86,000 | 44,000 |
| Total Claims | 648,000 | 524,000 |
| Annual Cost/Patient | $18,221.00 | $42,636.00 |
| Year-over-Year Change | +12.4% | -4.2% |
| Generic Available | Yes | Yes |
| Patent Expiration | Jan 31, 2023 | Jan 31, 2023 |
| Manufacturer | Gilead | ViiV Healthcare |
| Condition | HIV | HIV |
| Generic Name | Emtricitabine/TAF | Dolutegravir/Abacavir/Lamivudine |
Descovy vs Triumeq: What the Data Shows
Descovy (Emtricitabine/TAF) and Triumeq (Dolutegravir/Abacavir/Lamivudine) are both used to treat hiv. Based on Medicare Part D data, Descovy costs $2,418.00 per claim, which is 32% less than Triumeq at $3,580.00 per claim.
Medicare spent $1.6B on Descovy and $1.9B on Triumeq. In terms of patient reach, Descovy serves more beneficiaries (86,000 vs 44,000).
Year-over-year spending changed +12.4% for Descovy and -4.2% for Triumeq. 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 $3,580.00 for Triumeq. That makes Descovy about 32% less expensive per claim based on Medicare Part D data.
Yes, both Descovy and Triumeq 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/Abacavir/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 $1.9B on Triumeq covering 44,000 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.