Nucala vs Symbicort
Side-by-side cost comparison based on Medicare Part D data
Nucala
Mepolizumab
Manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline
Symbicort
Budesonide/Formoterol
Manufactured by AstraZeneca
Symbicort costs 92% less per claim than Nucala ($222.00 vs $2,720.00). A generic version of Symbicort is also available, which may reduce costs further.
Cost Per Claim
Medicare Spending
Beneficiaries
Annual Cost Per Patient
Full Comparison
| Metric | Nucala | Symbicort |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Cost Per Claim | $2,720.00 | $222.00 |
| Total Medicare Spending | $1.5B | $1.9B |
| Total Beneficiaries | 48,000 | 1,120,000 |
| Total Claims | 564,000 | 8,460,000 |
| Annual Cost/Patient | $31,958.00 | $1,675.00 |
| Year-over-Year Change | +12.4% | -6.4% |
| Generic Available | Yes | Yes |
| Patent Expiration | Jan 31, 2023 | Jan 31, 2023 |
| Manufacturer | GlaxoSmithKline | AstraZeneca |
| Condition | Asthma/COPD | Asthma/COPD |
| Generic Name | Mepolizumab | Budesonide/Formoterol |
Nucala vs Symbicort: What the Data Shows
Nucala (Mepolizumab) and Symbicort (Budesonide/Formoterol) are both used to treat asthma/copd. Based on Medicare Part D data, Symbicort costs $222.00 per claim, which is 92% less than Nucala at $2,720.00 per claim.
Medicare spent $1.5B on Nucala and $1.9B on Symbicort. In terms of patient reach, Symbicort serves more beneficiaries (1,120,000 vs 48,000).
Year-over-year spending changed +12.4% for Nucala and -6.4% for Symbicort. Nucala 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
Symbicort is cheaper at $222.00 per claim, compared to $2,720.00 for Nucala. That makes Symbicort about 92% less expensive per claim based on Medicare Part D data.
Yes, both Nucala and Symbicort are used to treat asthma/copd. Your doctor can help determine which medication is more appropriate for your specific situation.
Both drugs have generic versions available. Generic Mepolizumab and generic Budesonide/Formoterol can offer significant cost savings — typically 80-95% less than the brand name.
Medicare Part D spent $1.5B on Nucala covering 48,000 beneficiaries, and $1.9B on Symbicort covering 1,120,000 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.