Symbicort vs Xolair
Side-by-side cost comparison based on Medicare Part D data
Symbicort
Budesonide/Formoterol
Manufactured by AstraZeneca
Xolair
Omalizumab
Manufactured by Genentech/Novartis
Symbicort costs 87% less per claim than Xolair ($222.00 vs $1,657.00). 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 | Symbicort | Xolair |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Cost Per Claim | $222.00 | $1,657.00 |
| Total Medicare Spending | $1.9B | $1.0B |
| Total Beneficiaries | 1,120,000 | 62,000 |
| Total Claims | 8,460,000 | 624,000 |
| Annual Cost/Patient | $1,675.00 | $16,677.00 |
| Year-over-Year Change | -6.4% | +5.4% |
| Generic Available | Yes | Yes |
| Patent Expiration | Jan 31, 2023 | Jun 20, 2017 |
| Manufacturer | AstraZeneca | Genentech/Novartis |
| Condition | Asthma/COPD | Asthma/COPD |
| Generic Name | Budesonide/Formoterol | Omalizumab |
Symbicort vs Xolair: What the Data Shows
Symbicort (Budesonide/Formoterol) and Xolair (Omalizumab) are both used to treat asthma/copd. Based on Medicare Part D data, Symbicort costs $222.00 per claim, which is 87% less than Xolair at $1,657.00 per claim.
Medicare spent $1.9B on Symbicort and $1.0B on Xolair. In terms of patient reach, Symbicort serves more beneficiaries (1,120,000 vs 62,000).
Year-over-year spending changed -6.4% for Symbicort and +5.4% for Xolair.
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 $1,657.00 for Xolair. That makes Symbicort about 87% less expensive per claim based on Medicare Part D data.
Yes, both Symbicort 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 Budesonide/Formoterol and generic Omalizumab can offer significant cost savings — typically 80-95% less than the brand name.
Medicare Part D spent $1.9B on Symbicort covering 1,120,000 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.