Nucala vs Xolair
Side-by-side cost comparison based on Medicare Part D data
Nucala
Mepolizumab
Manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline
Xolair
Omalizumab
Manufactured by Genentech/Novartis
Xolair costs 39% less per claim than Nucala ($1,657.00 vs $2,720.00). A generic version of Xolair is also available, which may reduce costs further.
Cost Per Claim
Medicare Spending
Beneficiaries
Annual Cost Per Patient
Full Comparison
| Metric | Nucala | Xolair |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Cost Per Claim | $2,720.00 | $1,657.00 |
| Total Medicare Spending | $1.5B | $1.0B |
| Total Beneficiaries | 48,000 | 62,000 |
| Total Claims | 564,000 | 624,000 |
| Annual Cost/Patient | $31,958.00 | $16,677.00 |
| Year-over-Year Change | +12.4% | +5.4% |
| Generic Available | Yes | Yes |
| Patent Expiration | Jan 31, 2023 | Jun 20, 2017 |
| Manufacturer | GlaxoSmithKline | Genentech/Novartis |
| Condition | Asthma/COPD | Asthma/COPD |
| Generic Name | Mepolizumab | Omalizumab |
Nucala vs Xolair: What the Data Shows
Nucala (Mepolizumab) and Xolair (Omalizumab) are both used to treat asthma/copd. Based on Medicare Part D data, Xolair costs $1,657.00 per claim, which is 39% less than Nucala at $2,720.00 per claim.
Medicare spent $1.5B on Nucala and $1.0B on Xolair. In terms of patient reach, Xolair serves more beneficiaries (62,000 vs 48,000).
Year-over-year spending changed +12.4% for Nucala and +5.4% for Xolair. 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
Xolair is cheaper at $1,657.00 per claim, compared to $2,720.00 for Nucala. That makes Xolair about 39% less expensive per claim based on Medicare Part D data.
Yes, both Nucala and Xolair 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 Omalizumab 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 $1.0B on Xolair covering 62,000 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.
The side-by-side above pulls the CMS Medicare Part D Drug Spending data data for both entity A and entity B. What follows is the interpretation — which specific axes carry the most weight for entity A versus entity B, and which differences are large enough to influence a real decision.
Practical use of the comparison: read the data above, then drill into the individual entity A and entity B detail pages for the underlying breakdown. A pairwise comparison answers the relative question; the per-entity pages answer the absolute question.
Source: CMS Medicare Part D Spending, 2026.