Imbruvica vs Opdivo
Side-by-side cost comparison based on Medicare Part D data
Imbruvica
Ibrutinib
Manufactured by Pharmacyclics/Janssen
Opdivo
Nivolumab
Manufactured by Bristol-Myers Squibb
Imbruvica costs 34% less per claim than Opdivo ($10,445.00 vs $15,821.00). 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 | Imbruvica | Opdivo |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Cost Per Claim | $10,445.00 | $15,821.00 |
| Total Medicare Spending | $5.7B | $5.1B |
| Total Beneficiaries | 48,000 | 66,000 |
| Total Claims | 548,000 | 324,000 |
| Annual Cost/Patient | $119,250.00 | $77,667.00 |
| Year-over-Year Change | -8.7% | +15.8% |
| Generic Available | Yes | Yes |
| Patent Expiration | Jan 31, 2023 | Jan 31, 2023 |
| Manufacturer | Pharmacyclics/Janssen | Bristol-Myers Squibb |
| Condition | Cancer | Cancer |
| Generic Name | Ibrutinib | Nivolumab |
Imbruvica vs Opdivo: What the Data Shows
Imbruvica (Ibrutinib) and Opdivo (Nivolumab) are both used to treat cancer. Based on Medicare Part D data, Imbruvica costs $10,445.00 per claim, which is 34% less than Opdivo at $15,821.00 per claim.
Medicare spent $5.7B on Imbruvica and $5.1B on Opdivo. In terms of patient reach, Opdivo serves more beneficiaries (66,000 vs 48,000).
Year-over-year spending changed -8.7% for Imbruvica and +15.8% for Opdivo. Opdivo 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
Imbruvica is cheaper at $10,445.00 per claim, compared to $15,821.00 for Opdivo. That makes Imbruvica about 34% less expensive per claim based on Medicare Part D data.
Yes, both Imbruvica and Opdivo 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 Ibrutinib and generic Nivolumab can offer significant cost savings — typically 80-95% less than the brand name.
Medicare Part D spent $5.7B on Imbruvica covering 48,000 beneficiaries, and $5.1B on Opdivo covering 66,000 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.