Forteo vs Prolia
Side-by-side cost comparison based on Medicare Part D data
Forteo
Teriparatide
Manufactured by Eli Lilly
Prolia
Denosumab
Manufactured by Amgen
Prolia costs 53% less per claim than Forteo ($632.00 vs $1,337.00). A generic version of Prolia is also available, which may reduce costs further.
Cost Per Claim
Medicare Spending
Beneficiaries
Annual Cost Per Patient
Full Comparison
| Metric | Forteo | Prolia |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Cost Per Claim | $1,337.00 | $632.00 |
| Total Medicare Spending | $567.0M | $1.6B |
| Total Beneficiaries | 48,000 | 1,240,000 |
| Total Claims | 424,000 | 2,480,000 |
| Annual Cost/Patient | $11,813.00 | $1,264.00 |
| Year-over-Year Change | -18.4% | +6.4% |
| Generic Available | Yes | Yes |
| Patent Expiration | Jan 31, 2023 | Jan 31, 2023 |
| Manufacturer | Eli Lilly | Amgen |
| Condition | Osteoporosis | Osteoporosis |
| Generic Name | Teriparatide | Denosumab |
Forteo vs Prolia: What the Data Shows
Forteo (Teriparatide) and Prolia (Denosumab) are both used to treat osteoporosis. Based on Medicare Part D data, Prolia costs $632.00 per claim, which is 53% less than Forteo at $1,337.00 per claim.
Medicare spent $567.0M on Forteo and $1.6B on Prolia. In terms of patient reach, Prolia serves more beneficiaries (1,240,000 vs 48,000).
Year-over-year spending changed -18.4% for Forteo and +6.4% for Prolia.
Both drugs have generic versions available. Patients should discuss generic alternatives with their pharmacist to reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Prolia is cheaper at $632.00 per claim, compared to $1,337.00 for Forteo. That makes Prolia about 53% less expensive per claim based on Medicare Part D data.
Yes, both Forteo and Prolia are used to treat osteoporosis. Your doctor can help determine which medication is more appropriate for your specific situation.
Both drugs have generic versions available. Generic Teriparatide and generic Denosumab can offer significant cost savings — typically 80-95% less than the brand name.
Medicare Part D spent $567.0M on Forteo covering 48,000 beneficiaries, and $1.6B on Prolia covering 1,240,000 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.