Is there a role for generic antiretroviral drugs in the United States?

Figures & data

Table 1. Pharmacy charges for selected generic and brand name nucleoside antiretroviral drugs for the treatment of adult patients with HIV infection in January 2014.

Pharmacy chain	Annual costs of generic nucleoside drugs	Annual cost of least expensive generic two nucleoside regimen^†	Annual cost of Truvada (tenofovir plus emtricitabine)^‡
A	Zidovudine – US$3588.48	US$8024.98	US$17,208.60
	Lamivudine – US$4436.50
	Abacavir – US$6101.53
	Zidovudine fixed combination with lamivudine – US$9865.94
B	Zidovudine – US$2214.24	US$6594.16	US$19,224.64
	Lamivudine – US$4379.92
	Abacavir – US$7299.96
	Zidovudine fixed combination with lamivudine – US$9515.53
C	Zidovudine – US$4014.92	US$8528.68	US$20,026.43
	Lamivudine – US$4513.76
	Abacavir – US$6363.11
	Zidovudine fixed combination with lamivudine – US$9197.98

Annual costs refers to a 365 day supply of medication.

^†Generic zidovudine plus generic lamivudine as individual drugs was the least expensive option.

^‡Truvada was less expensive than the cost of tenofovir plus emtricitabine given as separate drugs, with an annual cost differential of US$1468.41 for pharmacy chain A, US$3272.75 for pharmacy chain B and US$1131.39 for pharmacy chain C.