Ibrance vs Imbruvica
Side-by-side cost comparison based on Medicare Part D data
Ibrance
Palbociclib
Manufactured by Pfizer
Imbruvica
Ibrutinib
Manufactured by Pharmacyclics/Janssen
Imbruvica costs 3% less per claim than Ibrance ($10,445.00 vs $10,816.00). A generic version of Imbruvica is also available, which may reduce costs further.
Cost Per Claim
Medicare Spending
Beneficiaries
Annual Cost Per Patient
Full Comparison
| Metric | Ibrance | Imbruvica |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Cost Per Claim | $10,816.00 | $10,445.00 |
| Total Medicare Spending | $4.5B | $5.7B |
| Total Beneficiaries | 36,000 | 48,000 |
| Total Claims | 418,000 | 548,000 |
| Annual Cost/Patient | $125,583.00 | $119,250.00 |
| Year-over-Year Change | -5.6% | -8.7% |
| Generic Available | Yes | Yes |
| Patent Expiration | Jan 31, 2023 | Jan 31, 2023 |
| Manufacturer | Pfizer | Pharmacyclics/Janssen |
| Condition | Cancer | Cancer |
| Generic Name | Palbociclib | Ibrutinib |
Ibrance vs Imbruvica: What the Data Shows
Ibrance (Palbociclib) and Imbruvica (Ibrutinib) are both used to treat cancer. Based on Medicare Part D data, Imbruvica costs $10,445.00 per claim, which is 3% less than Ibrance at $10,816.00 per claim.
Medicare spent $4.5B on Ibrance and $5.7B on Imbruvica. In terms of patient reach, Imbruvica serves more beneficiaries (48,000 vs 36,000).
Year-over-year spending changed -5.6% for Ibrance and -8.7% for Imbruvica.
Both drugs have generic versions available. Patients should discuss generic alternatives with their pharmacist to reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Imbruvica is cheaper at $10,445.00 per claim, compared to $10,816.00 for Ibrance. That makes Imbruvica about 3% less expensive per claim based on Medicare Part D data.
Yes, both Ibrance and Imbruvica are used to treat cancer. Your doctor can help determine which medication is more appropriate for your specific situation.
Both drugs have generic versions available. Generic Palbociclib and generic Ibrutinib can offer significant cost savings — typically 80-95% less than the brand name.
Medicare Part D spent $4.5B on Ibrance covering 36,000 beneficiaries, and $5.7B on Imbruvica covering 48,000 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.